Royal Caribbean Blog

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

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

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

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

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

It's fast

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

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

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

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

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

There are so many different choices

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

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

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

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

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

Some of the same food from the Main Dining Room

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

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

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

No dress codes

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

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

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

Easier to indulge with lots of food

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

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

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

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

Easier to get a great view

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My favorite place to bring picky eaters

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

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

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

The cooking stations are worth eating here alone

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

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

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

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

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

No set dining times

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

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

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

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

Opens up your nighttime fun

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skipping the buffet and heading straight to the bar

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visiting the sauna and steam room in the spa

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enhancing her interior cabin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Repeat specialty dining visits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trying new breakfast options

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

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

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

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

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

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

Formal night at the buffet

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other small changes that added to the cruise experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What happened to the pier

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

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

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

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

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

Missed port stops have created controversy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Captain Johnny Faevelen announced his retirement from Royal Caribbean International. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Time as a 2nd Officer

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

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

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

The work paid off because he became a Captain in 1994

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

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

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

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

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

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

Known for his flamboyant style

Captain Faevelen wasn't your average cruise ship Captain. 

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

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

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

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

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

Fond farewell

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The catch with sharing an internet package

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Royal Caribbean wifi tips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A cruising legend

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Mario became Super Mario

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

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

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

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

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

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

Since then, cruising has become a way of life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mario's favorite cruise memory

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.

When you finally get into your cruise ship cabin, there's a list of 15 things I'd recommend doing immediately.

Some of the things on the list are about preventing problems later, while others are what you can do to get into "cruise mode" faster.

No matter which type of stateroom you book, it's a good idea to get it situated on the first day so there's less to do later and you can fully enjoy your vacation!

Royal Caribbean News

• Legionnaires' later diagnosed with 2 separate cruise ship passengers after getting home
• Royal Caribbean will change cruise ships based from Los Angeles
• Royal Caribbean drops onboard credit offer for long cruises booked during a sailing
• Utopia of the Seas cruise ship review
• Wonder of the Seas cruise ship review
• Royal Caribbean just added 3 new drink specials to a cruise ship and it looks like a great deal
• Royal Caribbean moved its Italian restaurant on two ships. One was a controversial, but the other has a beautiful setting
• I let my kids roam now on their own on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but I added these 6 rules
• 10 Reasons people end up disappointed with their cruise vacation
• Can you bring water on a cruise? Royal Caribbean rules you need to know
• I tried 8 cruise tips that didn't work as well as I hoped once on the ship

New RCB Video: 5 Things I'll do differently on Royal Caribbean in 2025

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 — 5 Things I'll do differently on Royal Caribbean in 2025 — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

25 Do's and Don'ts for your Royal Caribbean cruise

Ready to start 2025 with the right approach to cruising?

Before you head out to your ship, we have a list of 25 things you should and shouldn't do for your cruise.

From pre-cruise planning to mistakes to avoid on the ship, it's a great list of faux pas and recommendations anyone can take advantage of.

How I find cheap cruises for as little as around $100 a day

It's more difficult than ever to find cheap cruise deals, but they exist.  Assuming you look in the right places.

Sky-high demand for cruise bookings have evaporated many of the deals that used be commonplace, but if you're very flexible and know where to look, there are still good prices out there.

If you want to find a cruise deal, you'll need to be savvy. 

These are 6 of the most overrated tourist attractions I've ever seen

I hate tourist traps because of that feeling that I've wasted my time and money on something truly uninspiring.

There's some debate as to what constitutes a true tourist trap, but in my cruises, I've run across at least 6 places that I knew were overrated wastes of time.

Not everyone will agree, but I feel strongly there are certain places you can visit on a cruise ship that should be skipped.

Cruise purchases vacationers instantly regretted

Have you ever bought something and knew immediately it was a mistake? A lot of cruisers have had the same feeling of remorse related to what they bought on a cruise.

Everyone's tastes are different, but hundreds of past cruise ship passengers shared recently what they bought on a cruise and wish they hadn't. 

Some of the things are commonly cited gripes, while others were a bit of a surprise.

No one wants to waste money, but there are certain purchases vacationers have made on cruise ships and regretted it.

A Royal Caribbean cruise offers a lot of choice in how you vacation, including a number of extra cost options.  It's your choice if you want to buy them, but some left some cruisers not loving their decision.

"Spa services. Staff will make you feel badly about yourself as they push products and additional services," is what one user on Reddit posted after being asked which Royal Caribbean purchase they instantly or later on thought probably didn't think was the best buy.

"Don’t waste your money."

Any purchase made is going to be subjective, but it's interesting to see if there are any patterns to what's deemed a poor choice.

Over 400 comments were made on the Reddit thread sharing everyone's cruise buying regrets, and here are the most popular answers.

Spa services

A relaxing or therapeutic spa service on a cruise ship topped the list of things past cruisers regretted spending their money on while cruising.

Over 20 people cited the spa as being a bad buy.

Every Royal Caribbean ship has a spa onboard where you can elect to purchase various treatments. There's also a salon for getting your hair or nails done.

Most of the comments were not complaining about a massage treatment, but rather, centered around the hard sells staff would make with it.

"Staff will make you feel badly about yourself as they push products and additional services. Don’t waste your money," is what Cartographer-Happy wrote.

Jane_Marie_CA wrote, "The cost of services are similar in price to the nice hotel day spa close to the my house. And the pushy sales pitch on board is awful."

"The spa service just didn't deliver on anything they promised, and I had major buyers remorse after seeing the prices," added Background-Cat4269.

One trick I've learned when going to spa is to simply inform the masseuse or stylist at the very start that you're happy to be there, but not interested in buying any products.  

The sales pitches usually occur at the end of the treatment, but a comment in the beginning before it begins usually works well.

Bingo

A number of cruises lamented paying for bingo, as it wasn't what they expected.

There's usually a few different bingo sessions on all ships, with some of the prizes a progressive jackpot.  

In most cases, guests have the choice of purchasing a number of bingo cards to play simultaneously or even a self-playing bingo machine.

"50 bucks entry, something like 200 entrants, for a 600 dollar prize," wrote Candelphins1897.

Mean_Breadfruit_1978 added, "it wasn't regular bingo and I probably shouldn't have done that. It was over really fast too."

" I could have had more fun that hour sitting by the pool and saved $70. Damn do they make a killing on bingo," wrote gnumadic.

Jamie's Italian restaurant

Perhaps the one surprise on this list for me were the amount of people that did not enjoy their meal at Jamie's Italian.

On some ships, Royal Caribbean has Jamie's Italian instead of their in-house Italian restaurant.  It's a partnership that was born out of the launch of the Quantum Class in 2014, and it spread to a few ships before the cruise line decided to invest in revamping its own restaurant.

"Jamies has been hit or miss for me. Prefer Giovanni's for sure though," User_Name_Tooken wrote.

"Gotta agree with Jamie’s. Our last time we only went once and we had the [Unlimited Dining Plan]," imarebelpilot said.

Other specialty restaurants were named across the 400 comments in this thread, but Jamie's seemed to have the most contempt.  

Art auctions

Many people complained they thought the art auctions were a waste of time.

You'll find an art auction held during your Royal Caribbean cruise, which is operated by a company named Park West.  

It seems the issue a lot of people had was the so-called value of buying this art that's put on by the auctioneers.

OnlyAbbreviations226 shared the regret at spending the money on it all, "we spent so much money we didn't know any better. I have pieces all over the house and some in the closet."

"They are pretty and look nice. But as other people have said could have gotten same on line for a lot less money."

"Park west artwork. Only buy it if you like it, not because you think it’s worth anything. It’s mostly all worthless," Recommended No_Eye1022.

One of the top reasons to attend the art auction is the free champagne, as well as the spectacle that is bidding in a live auction.  

Gold chains by the inch

Another surprise were the amount of people that felt they wasted money on the gold chains you can buy on ships by the inch.

Usually there's a table set up on the Royal Promenade or near the Windjammer where you can buy gold chains at whatever length you prefer.

The issue seems to be the chains weren't a bad price, but would break later, usually where the crew member cut it off.

"I got a silver one and it broke," one person wrote. Another replied, " Mine broke right where they cut it  and I am sure I can get pliers and fix it. But so annoying."

Watches

Speaking of jewelry, another bad buy cited by cruisers were watches.

You can find cheap watches, as well as expensive name brand ones, for sale in the shops on a cruise ship.

PrettyLaLa87 wrote, "My husband bought a stupid Invicta watch. I told him not to." 

That comment set off a lot of responses about how the price onboard can vary greatly from what you'd find on land.

When it comes to anything you buy on a ship, ignore any claims of how good a bargain that are made.  Look at it purely as something you'd like to own because it looks nice.

If you are truly looking for a good value in your buy, my advice is to check the price of the item online to price shop and compare.

Drinks

Lastly, some cruisers thought many of the drinks they bought were a bad idea in retrospect.

Some had issues with specific drinks, while others felt they wasted their money on a drink package.

• "This weird S'mores drink I had on Jewel back in February. Took days to get rid of the aftertaste."
• "The drink package. I always get caught up thinking what if I do need it and I never drink enough to even break even on the cost."
• "The beverage package. I didn’t drink enough fresh squeezed juices or Coke or specialty coffees to make it worthwhile."

A beverage package isn't a flat out good value for everyone. You need to know your drinking preferences in order to gauge if it's a good buy.

Generally speaking, you need to drink at least 5-6 drinks every day to "break even" on the cost of the package. Otherwise, you are probably better off financially paying for each drink individually.

Nonetheless, a lot of cruisers elect to buy a beverage package for the convenience factor. There's less remorse about "wasting a drink" if you try something new, as well as the speed of getting a drink since there's no receipts to sign.

Royal Caribbean is never one to shy away from trying something new, and it radically changed locations of its signature Italian restaurant on its two newest ships with mixed results.

There's been an Italian specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean ships for decades, but the cruise line has tinkered with ways to improve it.

Over the years we've seen the evolution of an extra cost Italian restaurant move from Portofino's to Giovanni's Italian Table to the most recent version, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen.

I've dined at all of the versions and always made a point to eat at Giovanni's on all of their newest ships.  Italian food is not only an incredibly popular cuisine, it's always satisfying and I really like the menu changes Royal Caribbean's Food & Beverage team have made in recent years to improve the menu with new additions.

We thought we knew what to expect with Giovanni's until Royal Caribbean's two newest cruise ships launched and experimented with Giovanni's in new areas of the ship.

The changes have brought improvements and also some questions as a result.

A bold placement on Icon

I think it's safe to say the decision to put Giovanni's Italian Kitchen on the Royal Promenade of Icon of the Seas opened a few eyes.

Traditionally, specialty restaurants have rarely been put on the the main thoroughfare of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship because of all the noise and activity.  

The Promenade is where you'll find lots of activities, parades, and parties.

Icon of the Seas is a brand new kind of cruise ship, and it features two levels for the first time.  As a result, Giovanni's was put on the second level of the Promenade.

There's a bit of a "chicken and the egg" situation here, as it's not clear was Giovanni's moved to the Promenade first and Izumi took over its traditional home in Central Park? Or did Izumi get preferential placement in Central Park and Giovanni's needed a new home?

Regardless, putting Giovanni's on the busy promenade is an interesting choice for two reasons.

First, is the noise factor given there's a lot of ambient noise on the Royal Promenade even when there isn't a part or event.

To be fair, I don't think restaurants have to like a library in terms of sound. You're on a cruise ship vacation, not a tiny cafe tucked in a side street of Naples.

Nonetheless, it's a bit louder in this location. The question is do casual cruisers or people that have never cruised before even noticed?

Royal Caribbean is curious of that answer too, because they've been surveying its passengers to determine if the location on the Royal Promenade is a good idea or not.

The second notable difference is the placement of the wine bar, which is essentially an island in the middle of the walkway.

Located on the opposite side of the walkway from the restaurant is a circular bar that serves as the wine bar for the restaurant.

There's also seating that faces the Royal Promenade, which might be the best people watching spot you'll ever find on a cruise ship.

When you sit down for a drink next to Don & Judy at the wine bar here, you're likely to quickly pick up on all the other passengers walking past you.

Just like the restaurant, the wine bar is far from quiet.  But one major benefit of this wine bar placement is you can easily find it.

On Royal Caribbean ships that have the wine bar in Central Park, it's easily overlooked and often completely empty because I believe people are unaware it exists.

The choice of Giovanni's Italian Kitchen on the Royal Promenade makes for a very convenient place.  You can't miss it, and when inspiring conversation runs out, you have the people watching element.

An incredible view on Utopia

Royal Caribbean once again moved Giovanni's to a new home on its newest ship, Utopia of the Seas.

You'll find Giovanni's on Deck 12 in a spot that had been where Wonderland was located on other Oasis Class ships.

While the cruise line wont ever admit it, I think this decision was equally because they thought it was a good idea and because Wonderland just isn't as popular.

Regardless of the impetus, the result is my favorite Giovanni's view of all time.

The restaurant is set across two decks, with a grand staircase down to the seating area.

There's no doubt when you walk in that the giant glass window with a view towards the back of the ship and the Boardwalk will capture your attention.

It's a beautiful vista, and such a pretty view to enjoy with your meal.

Every table in the restaurant can see out to the window, and thought the Product team really got it right with this location and view.

What's even more interesting is they built an outdoor patio on the other side of the window to be able to dine al fresco.

Admittedly, most months of the year in the Caribbean, you can't pay me to eat outside because it's just too hot and humid, but I have a major aversion to being hot.

For winter sailings, it would seem to be the perfect spot to enjoy a meal with the sun setting at dinner.

Not everything is perfect with this Giovanni's location, however, as I've noticed a few oddities about its placement.

First, there are a few Boardwalk balcony cabins that feel like they are inches away from the outdoor seating area. 

I'm not sure who it's more awkward for if there was someone seated at a table near the balcony while someone is on their balcony, but I wouldn't want to experience it.

The other issue is that there's no elevator or door out from the tables on the lower level.  So you need to go up the stairs and out the restaurant to get to the bathroom.

Still, I love the choice to put Giovanni's in this location on Utopia. I think it truly enhances the vibe of the restaurant and 

Your cruise ship cabin is your "home away from home", but there are a few important housekeeping tasks you should do to make ensure a great sailing.

Because you're going to be living in your stateroom for a week or more, I think it's important to take care of a few potential issues up front. Moreover, you'll get it out of the way quicker so you can enjoy your time on the ship.

While cruise cabins come in different categories, sizes, and prices, there are a core set of steps I do on every cruise I take, regardless of the room I'm in.

I think knocking them out quickly on embarkation day as soon as I walk in is the best approach, and that way I get to relaxing quicker.

Here's my list of 15 things everyone should do when they get to their cabin on a cruise.

Adjust Thermostat

If I'm being honest, the first thing I do after I open the door to my cabin is check the room's thermostat setting.

You have control in your room to set the air conditioning or heat level. On newer Royal Caribbean ships, you can pick the actual temperature, whereas older ships have a slider.

In warmer months, I find it critical to set the thermostat to the coldest temperature simply because anything less and the room feels too hot.  This is especially true if you have a balcony room where the sun radiating in heats the cabin more quickly than an inside room.

It's not uncommon for the room to be too hot or too cold when you get in, so I adjust it when I walk in. Making it as cold as possible is my secret to sleeping better on a cruise ship.

Inspect the Cabin

I think you'll naturally do this, but scan the room visually to ensure it's what you're expecting.

You'll want to identify any cleanliness or maintenance issues early. Royal Caribbean has a team of maintenance workers that live on the cruise ship. They can be dispatched to deal with issues, large or small.

To be fair, there's a good chance everything will work as you expect, but it's good to take a good "once over" to look through and verify it's all functional and clean.

If there are any issues, pick up the stateroom phone and dial the Maintenance or Housekeeping extension.  Your phone should have a dedicated quick dial button for it.

Unpack Essentials

Unpacking may seem trivial, but I find unpacking a necessary evil so that I'm not living out of a suitcase for the duration of my cruise.

While I have lived out of my suitcase, when I take the time to unpack, I feel far more liberated from clutter in the room.  Plus, it's always so much easier to find my stuff if I actually put it away.

There are drawers, closets, and hangers in your room and you can use all of them. I think you'll be impressed by how much storage space there is on Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships.

One tip is to try to keep your clothes away from the life jackets that are probably in your closet.  The life jackets have a tendency to smell a little bit, and that odor could get onto nearby clothes.

Hang Formal Wear

Speaking of unpacking, you'll want to use the hangers in the closet to get your formal clothes out from the suitcase.

Every Royal Caribbean cruise has at least one formal night, although these days the cruise line calls it "Dress Your Best".  It's the same difference, really.

Plus, there are other themed nights, like Red night, White Night, or Caribbean night. If you brought special clothing for these evenings, you'll want to get it unfolded to reduce creases.

There are usually more than enough hangers in your closet, but ask your room attendant if you need more.

"How do I know what the themed nights will be on my cruise?"

Royal Caribbean doesn't communicate theme nights in advance for some reason, but one easy way to figure out the themed nights is to refer to a past Cruise Compass.

Also, the Royal Caribbean app will eventually update a few days before your cruise begins with the information, but if you want to buy something fun, a Cruise Compass will get you more time to work with.

Store your luggage under your bed

There's just enough space under your bed to fit most luggage, and it's my favorite cruise tip for reducing clutter.

Unless you have more luggage than our message board moderator Lovetocruise2002, you should be able to fit them under the bed.  Stacking luggage inside each other works for most people.

You could alternatively put your luggage in the closet, but under the bed is out of sight. And that's probably the least utilized amount of space in your cabin.

Decorate Your Door

Did you know a lot of cruisers bring decorations with them for their cabin door to celebrate that they're on vacation?

You'll need to plan ahead to do this, but you can bring signs, magnets, pictures, and just about anything else to put on your door. Just make sure you don't use any tape or other adhesives.  Magnets work well to hold everything up.

Some ideas for your door decorations include your names, a sign celebrating a special occasion, battery powered Christmas lights, a whiteboard, or anything else creative.

Secure Important Documents

Once in your stateroom, I'll put my passports and travel papers into the safe.

The safe is usually hidden in a closet or drawer, and you just have to set a four digit code to open and close it.

I'll put my passports, car keys, wallet, cash, and any other valuables in there. I always put my wallet in there, and then just carry my SeaPass card and a little bit of cash for tipping or the casino.  It's very liberating to not have my wallet on me.

The safe usually is big enough for small electronics too, but I rarely put mine in there.  

Check Your Balcony or Window

Just like inside your cabin, verify your balcony or window is as you'd expect it.

Ensure doors easily open and close, and the locks function properly.

If you have a balcony, make sure the chair and table are there and it too works as you want.  

In my experience, there's rarely ever a problem, but now is the time to take care of it because you'll probably want to enjoy it for sailaway when the ship departs your homeport.

If you booked connecting balconies, double check the balcony divider is open, and if it's not, ask your stateroom attendant to open it for you.

Test Outlets

Another step in the inspection process of your cabin is that the outlets all work.

I cannot recall a time when an outlet didn't work, but you never know.  The last thing you'd want to do is later be ready for sleep only to realize you can't charge your phone.

Check the Bathroom

If there's one place that I've had the most maintenance issues, it's the bathroom.

When I sailed on Serenade of the Seas in a tiny inside cabin, the toilet didn't work for the first few hours of the cruise.  As I went to the hallway to find my cabin attendant, there was already a crew member there working on the issue.

My checklist in the bathroom of things to check includes:

• Verify the toilet flushes
• Verify there is hot water
• Verify the sink works
• Verify the shower door/curtain works

If you have more than 340 points in Crown and Anchor Society, you're supposed to get upgraded toiletries in the room. I'd say 75% of the time they're there, so it's something to check.

Set Up Sleep Preferences

Every cruise ship cabin has the choice of splitting the bed that's in there into two beds.

You can specify this on your cruise reservation, but sometimes that request doesn't get fulfilled.  Or you might have changed your mind.

You don't have to do anything yourself, because the cabin attendant can arrange this for you.

Likewise, if you have a couch that turns into a bed, you can let the cabin attendant know if they should leave the sofa bed in "sleep mode" all day.  My kids prefer it this way when they cruise so they can lounge or nap easier.

Introduce Yourself to Your Cabin Attendant

I've mentioned the cabin attendant throughout this article, and they're going to be a great asset during your sailing.

Cabin attendants aren't available when you first get to your room, but right around 3pm or so, they should start to filter in and introduce themselves.

Usually they will come to you and knock on your door to introduce themselves. They'll ask how everything is in the room and what preferences you might have.

They're responsible for many cabins on your deck, so they may get busy with other rooms. Nonetheless, you'll want to make sure you talk to them on the first day.

One important question they will have for you is what time of day you want your cabin cleaned.

Royal Caribbean offers the choice of morning or evening service for cabins for balcony rooms or lower categories.  Junior Suites and higher rooms get twice a day cleaning, so there's nothing to decide.

It's a bit controversial, but some cruisers will actually tip their cabin attendant on the first day as a kind of "thank you for everything you're about to do", but I don't prescribe to that theory.

I prefer to wait until the end of the sailing to tip my cabin attendant, almost always on the final morning.

If you ever have any issues or concerns about your stateroom, this is the crew member to talk to. 

Your cabin attendant usually gives you their card, which has their phone number on it.  Keep that handy for any issues that may arise. I place it on the mirror of the vanity in the room so it's easy to find. Plus, it has their name on it so you can remember their name.

Check your loyalty offers

Did you know that if you've cruised at least once you have special discounts and offers?

There's a sheet that will be left on the desk in your cabin with a list of all the discounts and deals you can take advantage of.  

There's no coupon or anything to bring with you, it's just a reminder of what you have available. Basically, you need to remember to ask the crew member to activate it when ordering.

As an example, there are discounts on beer, spa treatments, photo packages, and more.

Put drinks in the fridge

Royal Caribbean lets you bring up to 12 bottles of water or any non-alcoholic beverage on the cruise, so put them in the fridge.

Plus, if you're a Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle Club member, you might have opted in to get complimentary bottles of water or soft drinks.  By default, these are left out on your vanity and they're not cold.

You can put them in the fridge (it's more of a cooler, but I digress) so they're chilled.  Plus, it clears up clutter on your desk or around the room.

Finish your muster drill

If by the point you got into your cabin you have not completed the ship's safety drill, now is the time to get it done.

I prefer to knock out the eMuster when I first board the ship but "I'm on a cruise!" drinks wait for no one.  But you need to do it before the ship sails away, so get it done now.

The drill consists of three parts. The first two, watching a lifejacket safety video and listening to the emergency horn, can be done via the Royal Caribbean app. You can actually do these two steps even before you're on the ship the morning of embarkation day.  We usually do it on the drive to the cruise terminal.

The final step is to go to your muster station to check-in.  On the back of the cabin door is a sign indicating where your muster station is.  It's also located within the "Safety" section of the Royal Caribbean app.