Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean is ready to resume opening up new cruises to book in 2026-2027 in just a few days.

Cruisers can book new California sailings earlier thanks to Royal Caribbean's latest deployment schedule change. 

Royal Caribbean's deployment schedule refers to when the cruise line will open new sailings for booking. Each release is tied to a specific region, such as Short Caribbean, Europe, and California. 

California cruises from April 2026 to April 2027 will be announced during the week of February 10. However, the launch of new European cruises has been delayed to sometime during the week of February 17.

Last week, Royal Caribbean offered a preview of what's to come, including Serenade of the Seas departing from San Diego. Based on these test load sailings, here's what we can likely expect.  Keep in mind the exact line-up might differ, but this is our best guess.

The test load itinerary departs from San Diego on March 28, 2027, and stops in La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada, Mexico. 

Other sailings expected to debut include Voyager of the Seas, which will replace Navigator of the Seas. The Ports America Los Angeles website schedule shows Voyager arriving in California on October 5, 2026, with Navigator disappearing from the schedule in November. 

A test load itinerary revealed that Voyager of the Seas will offer an 8-night cruise from Los Angeles on November 5, 2026, with an overnight stay in Cabo. 

The California deployment will also unveil Royal Caribbean's plans for Quantum and Ovation of the Seas, both of which will debut in California in 2025.

The Quantum Class ships are larger than Navigator and Voyager of the Seas. Plus, they offer more modern amenities, including the North Star observation capsule, a skydiving simulator, and an enclosed SeaPlex, which features activities like bumper cars and roller skating.

Like with Voyager, the Ports America Los Angeles schedule shows Oviation on the manifest through December 2026. 

However, effective October 2026, it's hinted that Royal Caribbean will relocate Quantum of the Seas, leaving Ovation as the sole Quantum Class ship offering cruises from California. 

Royal Caribbean returned to Los Angeles after a decade-long break

The company's re-entry into the California market was successful. Executives confirmed that Navigator of the Seas' cruises have performed "exceptionally well." 

As such, Royal Caribbean is strengthening its presence on the West Coast by adding another departure port in California and introducing new ships sailing from Los Angeles.

The latest deployment changes

Royal Caribbean revised its deployment schedule at the end of January, placing new Australia cruises on hold. They eventually updated the schedule to give Australia cruises a new date. Now, they'll be released during the week of June 2. 

Another change affected the Seasonal Caribbean cruises, which were delayed from the week of February 24 to March 3. They were initially slated to launch around Feb. 17.

The newest update swapped Europe 2.0 and California cruises. 

What about Icon 3?

There hasn't been any published news about the third Icon Class ship, which is set to debut in 2026. 

However, Royal Caribbean typically doesn't include new ships as part of its regular deployment schedule. Instead, they usually have their own release. 

So, don't bank on the unnamed ship's release being part of the Europe 2.0, Short Caribbean, or Seasonal Caribbean launches. 

Royal Caribbean will likely release the ship's name and homeport, along with a special date exclusive to the new ship's bookings, separately.

What was it like to have been on a cruise ship before they became giant?

Cruise ships have changed a lot over the decades, but the era of the megaship truly did not begin until the late 1980s.

Prior to the launch of Sovereign of the Seas in 1987, cruise ships were plenty big, but not anywhere near the size they are today.

Sovereign of the Seas entered service in 1988 and not only became the world's biggest cruise ship, but revolutionized the industry because of how large she was and all that she offered. It set off a new generation of cruise ship design and extends to today.

Prior to the arrival of Sovereign, Royal Caribbean ships definitely looked different. Granted, everything looked different in the 1970s and 1980s compared to today.

In scouring photos of what it was like on a cruise ship pre-1988, you can see the experience focused primarily on relaxing onboard and the places you could visit.  Aside from fashion choices, I think you'll see more in common with today's cruises than different.

A fun escape to warm climates

The way Royal Caribbean marketed its cruise ships in the first half of its life focused on attracting people to a vacation that was all about warm weather and good times.

The marketing material in the early '80s was all about the places you could see and the different ways you could enjoy your day on ship and on shore.

Cruise ships weren't yet the destination in a sense, so Royal Caribbean played up the adventure you could have on a cruise vacation.

"Long, lazy days of sun, sea, music and entertainment, and just plain R and R," is what one advertisement read.

"Days of cruising from island to island, from Mexican temples to Jamaican gardens, without ever re-packing your toothbrush."

Royal Caribbean had a small fleet of cruise ships prior to the introduction of the Sovereign Class.

Their fleet consisted of:

• Song of Norway
• Song of America
• Nordic Prince
• Sun Viking

You could book a Royal Caribbean cruise for seven, eight, ten, or fourteen nights in length, year-round from Miami.

Cruises back then visited Jamaica, Cozumel, Barbados, and Caracas. Ships departed on Saturday or Sunday, and each ship was designed specifically for the Caribbean market.

Ship life

When you look at vintage photos of cruise ships, I think you can see the roots of many things we take for granted today.

With every new Royal Caribbean ship they built, the line learned important lessons of what its customers were looking for, and one major focus was the pool deck.

Ships featured wide expanses on pool decks, as well as spacious and colorful lounges and dining rooms.

One of the major selling points of a cruise was doing nothing at all and enjoying a break from work.

Of course, there was plenty to do on the ship too.

There was plenty of activities and evening entertainment too. Just like modern cruise ships, there were places to shop, shows onboard, and plenty of food.

In fact, these ships still had a kids club onboard.  

Royal Caribbean has always been a family cruise line, and that's been an attractive option for adults that they can bring their kids and everyone has something to do.

Kids camp included ice cream socials, pizza parties, games, masquerades, and movies.

It was available for kids between the age of 5 to 18 on Song of America.

Cabins were small, but functional

Another consistency between ships of today versus the past are the cabin.

While decor and aesthetics have changed, cruise cabins were small back then, just like today.

New cruisers might be surprised how much smaller a standard cabin is compared to a hotel room. That's largely so that there's more space on the ship for public areas and activities.

You'd find the basics in an inside room on a cruise ship back then, and if you can look past the 1980s styling, it's not that much different from today's rooms.

A fun focus on dining

My favorite thing to look back on is what it was like to go to dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise pre-1990.

I'm not someone who complains everything was better "back in the day", but I can appreciate the differences to today.

There were two seatings for all three meals in the Main Dining Room:

• Breakfast
  • 7:30am
  • 8:45am
• Lunch
  • 12:00pm
  • 1:30pm
• Dinner
  • 6:30pm
  • 8:30pm

Dinner themes included Italian, French, Caribbean, and "America The Beautiful".

A description of dress codes in a 1981 pamphlet for Song of Norway recommends, "For ladies, cocktail dresses and pantsuits are appropriate for evenings aboard ship and gentlemen are requested to wear jackets and ties in the dining room and lounges after 6:00pm on most evenings."

The Captain's Gala Cocktail Party is when they wanted guests to make a "grand entrance dressed in your most devastating gown or best dinner jacket."

There was also pirate's night as well as a Madcap Masquerade, where guests could dress up as Groucho Marx or Dolly Parton.

And yes, there was a midnight buffet offered in these days. Cruise ships didn't have nearly as many dining choices as they do today, so one evening of the cruise, there would be "a pageant of delicious dishes."

Royal Caribbean actually offered a viewing before the buffet opened, so passengers could take photos.

If you suddenly had the idea to plan a spring break cruise, it's probably too late by now.

As we're just a few weeks away from the start of Spring Break vacations, many families are gearing up to escape to a warm, sunny cruise in the Caribbean.

While there are still some cabins left on select ships, you're probably in for a rude awakening when you get a quote.

"It's expensive and limited availability," is what Sharla Manglass, a travel advisor with MEI Travel, said about spring break options.

She, and many travel agents, are getting swamped with new requests for a spring break cruise. 

Families that are trying to book a cruise with just weeks left until their sail date are running into the reality of the nature of the cruise industry today.  Cruise vacations are seeing record demand that have resulted in higher prices across the board.  

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty told Wall Street analysts recently, "We're seeing really good demand trends from Europe, as well as obviously the U.S."

While Ms. Manglass is happy to price out what's left, she knows before the quote is generated it's probably not what the client is looking for.

"It's not to say there is nothing available, but picky cruisers might not be happy with what is out there." 

She gave an example of what many families are looking for in their quote, "If you have a family of 4 or 5, a single room isn't likely going to be available, nor will connecting rooms."

Compounding the problem is going to be logistical considerations to get to and from the cruise.

"Another consideration is that flights are going to be expensive this late in the game," Ms. Manglass explained. "The cost of both flights as well as paying for a cruise in full at the same time won't work for most people's budget."

Start planning spring break next year instead

If you're locked out of a spring break cruise this year, now is the perfect time to get avoid this problem next year.

"If someone contacted me asking to book a cruise for this year's Spring Break, I’d offer to look, but it might be better to look for the summer or spring break next year."

The single best strategy for getting on the ship you want at a price you like is to book as early as you can.

The mistake new cruisers make is waiting too long to plan a cruise, and the result are few ships and high prices.

Booking a cruise in 2026 now, means you'll have so many more choices in the ship, stateroom, itinerary, and almost certainly lower prices.

With demand so high for cruises, prices are only going up from here.  Booking now locks in the price and gives you much more time to pay it off before the final payment date.

As an example, a cruise booked for March or April 2025 would require full payment of the cruise immediately because it's past the final payment window of 90 days.  So even if you found a spring break cruise for this year, you'd have to shell out the entire cost up front.

But if you booked a 2026 spring break cruise, you could reserve one with just a deposit. Then you could make payments between now and 90 days prior to the sail date, or pay it all later when you reach the final payment date.

Big savings if you book next year's cruise now

An example of the pricing difference if you book this year or next year can be found in looking at Adventure of the Seas.

Adventure sails from Port Canaveral on March 14 in both 2025 and 2026, offering a 6-night Caribbean cruise in both years.

If you tried to book an inside cabin for 4 people in 2025, there are no inside cabins left that can accommodate that size.

For comparison, two adults in an inside cabin on the March 14, 2025 sailing of Adventure of the Seas starts at $2,135 if you book a guarantee cabin or $2,509 if you choose a specific cabin.

Even if you select your own cabin, there are just five rooms left to book and the price goes up if you don't want a room on deck 2. 

However, if you opt for the same cruise on Adventure of the Seas on March 14, 2026, the options are much better.

There are still inside cabins left for 4 people in a single room, plus many other cabin categories.

For that two adults in an inside cabin idea, the price starts at $1,463 if you let Royal Caribbean pick the room location, or $1,657 if you pick the room location.

That's over 50% less to book a spring break next year compared to this year. With that $852 in savings, you could use it to pay for airfare or a host of other vacation costs.

Happy early Valentine's Day! Hope the holiday is filled with chocolate, flowers and a Royal Caribbean cruise! I'm spreading the Royal Caribbean love with our look at all the Royal Caribbean news from this week.

Almost 100 people are sick on one Royal Caribbean cruise ship this week.

An outbreak of gastrointestinal illness has been reported on Radiance of the Seas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The issue was reported to the CDC on Tuesday, with symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is adding a new casino to one of its ships in an unusual spot that non-smokers will love
• How do you actually redeem your Royal Caribbean loyalty benefits?
• NCL orders new giant cruise ships to compete with Royal Caribbean
• 14 things to do before a cruise
• Royal Caribbean is giving cruise passengers a report on how much they lost in the casino last year
• The weird thing passengers have to do when Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship is refueled

Video: What it’s REALLY like in Royal Caribbean’s ultra-expensive suites

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 — What it’s REALLY like in Royal Caribbean’s ultra-expensive suites — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

How old is too old to go on a cruise?

Is there such thing as being too old to cruise?

Royal Caribbean is a family cruise brand that appeals to all demographics, and seniors are certainly one of the top groups going on a cruise.

Anyone over the age of 60 should take certain precautions before going on a cruise ship, just in case.

The little known bed upgrade you can ask for

If Royal Caribbean's beds are too firm for you, there is an option to fix that.

Some people complain the beds on a cruise are hard, but you can ask your stateroom attendant for a fix.

Between mattress pads and DIY solutions, it could mean a much better night's sleep.

I sailed on two Royal Caribbean ships on the same itinerary, and there was a clear winner

How similar is it when you go on different ships to the same place?

Within a month of both sailings, I went on Voyager of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas to Cozumel, Mexico, doing almost the exact same itinerary.

The experience was remarkably different on each, and it highlights how important choosing the right ship can be.

7 foods that cruisers call Royal Caribbean's best-kept secrets

The food on a cruise is just as exciting as the places I'll visit or things to do onboard.

I think there are a handful of foods on Royal Caribbean that are some of the least-well known, but taste so good.

Maybe you can try one of these underrated finds on your next cruise.

Royal Caribbean might have one of the best cruise line loyalty programs in the entire cruise industry, so you'll want to take maximize all of your benefits.

From my early days of cruising, I was impressed how much you get on your ship after just a few cruises from Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society.

There are discounts offered for drinks, spa treatments, packages, and more.  While the best loyalty benefits are available beginning with the Diamond level, every discount helps.

After you take just one cruise, you automatically qualify to be a member of Crown and Anchor, and that means you can start getting onboard benefits with your next sailing.

You'll earn one point for every night you sail, and the more points you accrue, the higher you move up within Royal Caribbean's program.

It seems most cruisers are aware of the offers, but may not know how to use them all.  Here's an easy explanation of how to use your cruise offers and discounts.

View your list of benefits

Before your can redeem your benefits, you need to know what you have.

Waiting in your stateroom will be a list of every discount you have, and you can refer to this sheet during your sailing. The paper is always on the desk in your cabin.

Everyone has their own set of benefits, including your kids. Minors have similar benefits to adults, with a few tweaks.

If the paper is not there, you can stop by the Loyalty Ambassador's desk onboard to get a list and verify it has you eligible for discounts in their system.

It's your responsibility to be aware of them and know which ones you've already used.

I recommend taking a photo of it so you have a copy to easily refer to, although you could fold it up and keep it in your pocket too.

Examples of what's offered

To give you an idea of what's available, here are a few of the most useful rewards that will be available onboard.

Keep in mind as you move up the levels, benefits stack.  So something you got in Gold, you'd continue to get in Platinum.

Gold

• 50% off any glass of wine, beer or soda (two coupons per sailing)
• 50% off a Johnny Rockets milkshake (two coupons per sailing, on select ships)
• 25% discount on any coffee beverage, excluding Starbucks coffee
• $2 in Free Play at shipboard casinos

Platinum

• 50% discount on any coffee beverage, excluding Starbucks coffee
• $4 in Free Play at shipboard casinos
• 15% discount on any spa service (excluding medi-spa services)
• $5 off $25 dry-clean or press
• 3 free cards when buying a bingo package

Emerald

• 2 complimentary welcome waters (per adult)
• $6 in Free Play at shipboard casinos

Diamond

• 4 complimentary daily drinks up to $14 (excludes Starbucks, Bionic Bar, and Desserted)
• 1 free day of internet
• 1 free digital or printed photo

Diamond Plus

• 5 complimentary daily drinks up to $14 (excludes Starbucks, Bionic Bar, and Desserted)
• 2 free days of internet (for 1 device)
• 3 complimentary welcome waters (per adult)
• BOGO specialty restaurant cover charge during the first or second night of your cruise
• Single supplement cruise fare reduced to 150% from 200% for members that have 340+ cruise points

Pinnacle Club

• 6 complimentary daily drinks up to $14 (excludes Starbucks, Bionic Bar, and Desserted)
• Free cruise at 700 points (and more thereafter)
• Free unlimited internet for 1 device

Most aren't available before the cruise begins

While there are some minor Crown and Anchor benefits you can use before the cruise begins, all the discounts are only redeemable on the ship.

As an example, you cannot "stack" a drink package discount offered by the Diamond Plus tier with the pre-cruise discount Royal Caribbean offers.

There are a few Crown and Anchor discounts available while at home, but I find they rarely get used.

There's a balcony discount that begins at the Platinum level, but it's not combinable with other discounts.  So in practice, it's rarely useful because of the constant sales Royal Caribbean offers that block Crown and Anchor option.

Another so-called benefit is when a new deployment is released, Crown and Anchor members are supposed to get a 24 hour head start on the general public to buy them.

While Royal Caribbean does advertise this, the reality is anyone can book a cruise. 

Crown and Anchor benefits require you to ask for them

Don't worry about the pre-cruise benefits, because the real savings are once you're on the ship.

Essentially, all those discounts you see on the sheet are loaded onto your SeaPass card automatically. Years ago there were paper coupons, but those were discontinued a long time ago.

If you want to use your coupon, you need to ask to use it.  Some crew members will see you have a coupon and may ask if you want to redeem it.  In my experience, this happens less than half the time.

For example, when you order a glass of wine and give the bartender your SeaPass card, you just need to tell that person you want to apply the 50% off glass of wine discount.

You should get a receipt with the discount shown there, but it's a good idea to double check your SeaPass account periodically to verify it's been applied.

It sounds easy enough, but I've found it's somewhat difficult to remember you have them and then ask to use them.

All of your rewards are "use them or lose them", so you can't save them for another cruise (even if you're doing a back to back sailing).

The most valuable Crown and Anchor benefit

Without a doubt, I think the most lucrative reward that Royal Caribbean bestows on its customers are the daily drink vouchers that begin at the Diamond level.

When you reach Diamond level, you're entitled to four complimentary drinks per day across the ship, including alcoholic beverages

You get the four drinks every day, and many people think of it like an almost free drink package.

I'm not aware of any other cruise line that gives away that many extra cost beverages every day of the cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line is betting big with its new mega-ship orders. 

The cruise line plans to debut its largest ship class in 2030. Weighing around 226,000 gross registered tons (GRT) with a passenger and crew capacity of more than 8,300, they'll join MSC Cruises in competing with Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Icon Class ships. 

MSC launched its first World Class ship in 2022 and a second, World America, will enter service in Florida in April, sailing from the line's brand-new Miami terminal. 

The four new Norwegian ships will be built by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. According to Reuters, a source close to the matter said the order was worth over $9 billion. The first of the four ships will be delivered in 2030, with the others in 2032, 2034, and 2036.

Fincantieri is responsible for some of Norwegian's newest builds, including Norwegian Aqua, which is slated to enter service in March. While Norwegian's Prima Class ships aren't the line's largest, they are NCL's most innovative. Norwegian Aqua, for example, will feature the Aqua Slidecoaster, the world's first hybrid rollercoaster-waterslide at sea. 

Currently, Norwegian's largest cruise ship is Norwegian Encore. The 6-year-old ship measures 169,116 GRT, is 1,094 feet long, and can hold 3,998 passengers at double occupancy. Norwegian Encore's gross tonnage makes her slightly larger than Quantum of the Seas, which comes in at 168,666 GRT. Quantum, however, is longer, stretching 1,141 feet.

Norwegian's ambitious mega-ship plans reveal that the line is stepping up its game to compete with the giants of the industry, and they aren't the only ones. 

Read more: How cruise ships got so big

Carnival Cruise Line also announced a new order for mega-ships

Carnival's three new vessels will measure around 230,000 GRT and have more than 3,000 cabins onboard, which is more than any other cruise ship at sea, surpassing even Icon of the Seas which has 2,805 staterooms. 

They will be the largest ships ever built by Fincantieri. The first is expected to be delivered in 2029, with the other two joining the fleet in 2031 and 2033. 

Carnival's largest ship, Carnival Jubilee, comes in around 183,000 GRT and is the line's third Excel Class ship. The Excel Class revolutionized Carnival's offerings, setting a new standard with innovative features an onboard rollercoaster, modern cabins, and more dining options than ever before. 

Still, they're a far cry from Royal Caribbean's mega-ships.

Royal Caribbean is known for having the largest cruise ships in the world

It's a title they've kept in the brand since Freedom of the Seas' launch in 2006. Less than four years later, Royal Caribbean redefined cruising with the launch of Oasis of the Seas in 2009. 

It was the first time a cruise ship measured over 200,000 GRT and introduced several innovative features like multiple FlowRiders, a zip-line, and a huge AquaTheater, setting a new standard for the cruise industry.

While Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships kept the cruise line in the news for over a decade, they once again shook up the game with Icon of the Seas in 2024. That's not all, either. Royal Caribbean is growing the Icon Class with Star of the Seas in 2025 and another ship in 2026. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean CEO explains why mega cruise ships are so popular 15 years after their inception

Getting a good night's sleep is important, even on a cruise vacation.

I usually sleep very well on Royal Caribbean ships, but admittedly, I prefer a firm mattress. 

Everyone has their own personal preference when it comes to beds, so I'm not surprised when some people claim the beds are too firm to their taste.

Longtime cruisers know there's a special request you can make if you need another option, but you need to know to ask for it.

You can ask for a mattress topper

If your cruise ship cabin bed is too hard, you can ask your stateroom attendant for a mattress topper.

There's a limited supply of these, where the stateroom attendant will place one underneath your bed sheets to provide a little more padding.

While it won't transform your bed into a heavenly fluffy pillow, it might help just a little. Cruisers have described them as a very thick quilt, an egg foam mattress topper, or a mattress pad.

Some ships do actually have a memory foam pad. All ships have different toppers sometimes its an egg crate, sometimes its the nice foam ones.

It's been my experience has been if you find the mattress is too hard, asking for a topper has been worth asking for.

The problem is they can run out, so you'll need to act quickly.

There's only a limited supply, and after the first night on the ship, enough people will complain to probably get one.

There's no cost to ask for one, but you need to act quickly.

You can request a mattress topper before your cruise begins

While I've always waited to ask for a mattress topper once onboard, you could submit the request before the cruise begins.

Royal Caribbean has a special needs form that you can fill out up to 30 days before your cruise begins.  This form is really meant for medical needs, but it allows for a mattress topper too.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected] with the request.

Their response will be something like this:

"Thank you for contacting the Access Department regarding the accommodations for your upcoming cruise.

To accommodate your back conditions, we will provide a two-inch-thick micro-fiber pillow top at no additional cost. This item will be placed in your stateroom on the day of sailing. Please note, we no longer provide egg crate mattresses for sanitary reasons."

You just need to provide your ship name, sail date, and reservation number.

DIY approach

If they run out, you could make your bed a little more comfortable with a spare comforter.

You can ask your stateroom attendant for an extra blanket to put under the sheet, and that will provide a little extra cushion.

It's a good alternative if they run out of toppers by the time you ask.

Bring one from home

Rather than play a game of roulette with which topper you'll get, some cruisers have begun bringing their own.

"You can bring your own on! I recommend getting a space bag and a hand pump so you can make it really small to fit in your luggage," is what pundromeda recommends.

Another cruiser shared their strategy of bringing their own, "We bring our own (2 twins). The room steward is happy to put it on the bed for us. At the end of the cruise, we just roll them up and put them in their own duffle bag. Ready for next cruise."

While I've never brought my own, many cruisers recommend the Klymit sleeping pad as an option. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission if you buy it)

You can also ask for a fan

Something else that might help you sleep better is to ask your stateroom attendant for a fan.

A fan can serve two purposes: cooling you down and providing white noise.

Royal Caribbean won't let you bring appliances on a cruise ship for fire hazard reasons, but they do have fans you can borrow.

There's a limited supply of large standing fans that guests can use for the duration of the cruise.

Alternatively, you could bring a USB powered fan, such as this one. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra but I make a small commission if you buy it)

Suite guests get softer mattresses

Something else worth noting is if you're in a suite on some ships, you can expect a better mattress.

As part of the Royal Suite Class benefits available on the Oasis, Icon, and Quantum Class cruise ships, Royal Caribbean includes "Luxury Pillow Top Mattress and Linen" in the cabin.

It's available for Sea, Sky, and Star Class rooms.

I went on two different cruise ships that sailed to Mexico, and the experience was remarkably different on each.

Royal Caribbean has almost 30 ships in its fleet, and they're far from carbon copies of each other.

In the last two months, I went on Voyager of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas and these are both cruise ships that started cruising before the turn of the century.

While they're only two years apart in age, what it's like onboard each one differs greatly. Equally important is the price difference too.

Both cruises went to the Western Caribbean visited the same port: Cozumel, Mexico.

For me, there was a clear winner in which I'd prefer to go on again.

I ate in the Main Dining Room for dinner on both ships, but I liked the ambiance better on Voyager

Every night I ate dinner in the Main Dining Room on both ships, and it's a favorite place because of the level of service here.

Some cruisers nit pick about the changes to dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise over recent years, but the dedication the crew members have in the Main Dining Room always impresses me.  You can tell they are working incredibly hard to deliver on excellent service.

On both ships, our table's main waiter brought a smile and hustle to their approach. They may not have always been perfect, but they strived to make it better.

On Voyager of the Seas, our head waiter went above and beyond what I'd expect with his attention to our group.  He ensured the service matched our expectations, and stepped in where needed.

Of course, the menus are exactly the same across all Royal Caribbean ships in the Main Dining Room. The main difference was the look and feel of the venue itself.

The Main Dining Room on Voyager of the Seas is three decks high, whereas Enchantment's is two decks.  

While I like the staircase on Enchantment, I think Voyager's Main Dining Room just looks so much more ornate and spectacular. It's bright, very open, and feels like you're dining in a palace.

I had fun on both ships, but there was much more to do at night on Voyager

Because Voyager of the Seas is so much bigger than Enchantment, there's simply more to do onboard the ship.

During the day, I didn't really care or notice the differences.  Both ships have pools, a rock wall, and various activities happening around the ship.

But at night, I noticed the stark contrast between these cruise ships.

While Enchantment of the Seas has a large Schooner Bar, I much preferred having more of the venues on Voyager.

There's an English Pub on Voyager that has a guitarist each evening, and it was my go-to spot.

Plus, the Royal Promenade just seems like there's more happening compared to a ship with a Centrum.

Small things like a better situated casino bar, more expansive dance area in the Viking Crown Lounge, and live music in the Star Lounge seemed to give Voyager an edge over similar venues on Enchantment.

I much preferred the adults-only area on Enchantment

Without a doubt, Enchantment's adults-only space is significantly better than Voyager of the Seas.

The Solarium is enclosed on Enchantment, so that makes it always the perfect temperature.  The Voyager Class Solariums are not enclosed, so when it was cold and rainy on our sea day, it made the Solarium nearly unusable.

Plus, I really like how large the Solarium is on Enchantment. It felt like there was much more space and more chairs to choose from.

One other advantage the Solarium on Enchantment of the Seas has is the fact there's Park Cafe inside it.

You can get sandwiches, salads, and pizza here.  

There's no restaurant in the Solarium on Voyager.

I stayed in a balcony cabin on both ships, but the shower was much better on Voyager

I booked a balcony cabin on each ship, and the experience was quite similar, with one notable exception.

An ocean view balcony cabin is pretty standard across all Royal Caribbean ships.  Apart from the aesthetics of the room, and how many drawers or cabinets there are, these rooms are more similar than different.

The key exception is the shower, which makes one so much worse than the other.

On Enchantment of the Seas, there is a shower curtain, whereas Voyager of the Seas has plastic tubes.

The problem with the shower curtain is it tends to cling to you while you're in there, and that grosses me out.

I can live with the problem, but I greatly prefer the room on Voyager simply for no shower curtain.

I was surprised how much cheaper Enchantment was

You can't compare these two ships without talking price, especially when cruises cost more and more each year.

I paid $3,004.18 for two people on a 5-night cruise on Voyager of the Seas. This was also over New Year's Eve, so there was definitely a premium for the holiday sailing.

On Enchantment of the Seas, I received the room for free because of a casino offer, so I cannot compare exactly the retail price difference.

While both ships offer a good value compared to newer ships, you are likely to find lower rates on Enchantment. In fact, some dates there are sailings that begin at right around $100 per person, per day.

A cruise on Voyager of the Seas will cost you a bit more, which means those on a tight vacation budget will find a better fit on Enchantment.

Overall, I'd pick Voyager of the Seas again

In the end, though both cruise ships offered enjoyable experiences, the fact Voyager of the Seas had more to do and more places to eat made it my clear winner.

Voyager of the Seas has more specialty restaurants, more theaters and shows, and the caliber of its shows are superior to Enchantment.

Surprisingly, I think I prefer Enchantment's pool deck.  The enclosed Solarium and pool bars are definitely better.

I liked my cruise on Enchantment of the Seas far more than I thought I would, but I prefer a ship to offer me more choices in what I can do.

I don't have a cruise booked on either ship in the future, but if I had the choice for a 4- or 5-night Caribbean cruise, I'd like to book Voyager (if I can't simply book both ships again).

Certain foods on a Royal Caribbean ship are well-known favorites that cruisers come back to time and time again, but what about the unsung heroes?

Royal Caribbean cruisers that have been sailing with the line for a few years know there are certain foods that always hit the spot, but it's usually a surprise to new cruisers.

The Main Dining Room serves lobster on the second formal night, but nearly everyone looks for lobster on the menu.  Beyond the usual favorites, there are a handful of foods I think are fantastic choices most people are unaware of.

Maybe on your next cruise you can check out one of these underrated finds and add it to your list.

Toppings bar at El Loco Fresh

One of the best, yet largely unheralded, improvements Royal Caribbean has made to its pool deck was the addition of El Loco Fresh.

I don't think you'll confuse the tacos, burritos, and quesadillas served here, but the beauty of it is how you can customize your food.

After you get your food from the buffet line, there's a toppings bar where you can load it up exactly the way you want it.

There's pico de gallo, guacamole, jalapenos, and a pretty good variety of hot sauces.

I can't tell you how many times I've gone here for a quick bite, even when I've stayed in Star Class.

Filet and lobster at Coco Beach Club

In coming up with this list, there's a few foods at Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, starting with the Coco Beach Club.

The Coco Beach Club is an extra cost area within Perfect Day at CocoCay that usually costs over $100 per person for a day pass.  That's a high price, but the food might make up for it.

Within the club's sit down restaurant is arguably the best steak and lobster you'll find.

You'll find very large portions that are exactly the kind of lobster or steak you'd imagine when thinking of a great dish.

It's essentially the best surf and turf you'll find across Royal Caribbean.

Secret sandwich

In keeping with our CocoCay faves, since Perfect Day opened, there's been a menu item you have to know to ask for in order to order.

At any of the Snack Shack locations, you can walk up and ask for "the secret sandwich". Given it's name, it has to make this list.

A lot of cruisers know about it now, but it's still something that will turn a few heads when you order it.

It's essentially an amalgamation of two regular menu items: the chicken sandwich and mozzarella sticks, with marinara sauce added on top.

The result is a chicken parmigiana sandwich, and it's really good.  Some people prefer no pickles (because the pickles come with the chicken sandwich), but I kind of like it for the twist on the flavor.

Campfire cookie

If you're looking for an indulgent food that you might overlook, it's by far the dessert at Playmakers Sports Bar.

Imagine a hot skillet that offers spoonful's of marshmallow, ice cream, and cookie together. It's a mess, but probably one of the best desserts Royal Caribbean has ever conjured up.

When you have a chocolate chip cookie with marshmallows on top, it's a great combination.

Because Playmakers is priced a la carte, you can drop in to order just the cookie and only spend $6.  

Mozzarella sticks

One more amazing food on CocoCay has to be the mozzarella sticks.

It's become a meme within our team when someone goes to Perfect Day at CocoCay, to brag about the mozzarella sticks.

While you can get mozzarella sticks on the ship, the ones served at the Snack Shack are a different recipe and they're so darn good.

I think it's the breading that makes it stand out, but we'll order mozzarella sticks with our secret sandwich, every time.

Asian stir fry cooking station

When I walk into the Windjammer, the first place I look are the cooking stations.

I think most cruisers overlook them because they're fixated on the traditional buffet areas. While the food around the buffet is indeed quite good, nothing compares to a freshly prepared dish.

There are a few varieties, but my favorite is the Asian stir fry option. I'll probably forgo food elsewhere in the Windjammer just for this when it's available.

You get to select the vegetables and meat of your choice to be stir fried together with noodles and soy sauce. 

Crepes at Aquadome Market

Royal Caribbean knew it had a hit on its hands when they created their first food hall concept on Icon of the Seas, and the crepe station is by far the runaway winner.

Aquadome Market offers a few types of cuisines to choose from, but the one with the longest line is always the crepe station.

You tell the crew member what you want in the crepe, and they make it on the spot for you.

The result is a delicate and delicious decadent dessert/breakfast/snack. 

Plus it's free!

Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas has reported a gastrointestinal illness outbreak on its current sailing with nearly 100 sick guests onboard.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Radiance of the Seas reported 89 ill guests onboard its current voyage. Additionally, two crew members are reportedly ill with gastrointestinal symptoms onboard. 

The outbreak was reported to the CDC on February 4, 2025, with 4.1% passengers and 0.2% crew members reporting symptoms of the illness. There are currently 2,164 guests onboard and 910 crew members on the vessel. 

Radiance of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s smallest vessels, accommodating around 2,500 passengers at maximum capacity and measuring 90,090 gross tons.

Most guests on Radiance of the Seas are showing symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting - two of the predominant symptoms for gastrointestinal illness. Other common symptoms include muscle aches, headaches, abdominal cramps, or fever.

Radiance of the Seas is currently sailing on a 7-night itinerary to the Western Caribbean. The ship departed from Tampa, Florida on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The itinerary includes stops in Cozumel (Mexico), Roatan (Honduras), Belize City (Belize), and Costa Maya (Mexico). Radiance of the Seas is scheduled to return to Tampa, Florida on February 8, 2025.

Along with these details, the CDC included multiple steps taken by crew members aboard Radiance of the Seas in response to the outbreak. First, the cruise line increased cleaning and disinfection on the ship, based on Royal Caribbean’s outbreak prevention and response protocol.

In addition, the cruise line has collected stool specimens from the gastrointestinal illness cases to be used for testing. This can help identify the cause of the outbreak, which could be norovirus. Ill passengers and crew members have also been isolated to reduce potential illness spread.

Royal Caribbean is consulting with VSP to address the outbreak, which is the Vessel Sanitation Program run by the CDC. Based on the report, VSP is monitoring the situation and reviewing Radiance of the Seas’ sanitation procedures and outbreak response.

Is this an outbreak of norovirus?

At this time, it’s unclear if the gastrointestinal illness outbreak is caused by norovirus. The CDC does not list a causative agent for the outbreak, which is defined as the specific organism responsible for the development of the disease.

However, the CDC states, “Norovirus is often a cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, but we don't always know the cause of the outbreak when we begin an investigation.”

“Finding the agent that caused an outbreak (causative agent) can take time. When an outbreak occurs, people whose symptoms met the case definition are asked to provide stool or vomitus samples. These samples are tested to determine the causative agent. In this outbreak, samples are pending confirmatory testing,” continues the CDC.

Cruise ships are required to report cases of gastrointestinal illnesses to the CDC. The government agency states, “Reporting gastrointestinal illness is important. When passengers and crew tell the medical center onboard about their symptoms, it helps GI illness outbreaks get detected quickly. This allows steps to be taken to limit the spread of illness.”

Outbreaks of norovirus are on the rise across the U.S.

Norovirus cases have been surging over the recent weeks in the United States based on CDC data. The total number of outbreaks reported in the 2024–2025 season exceeds the range recorded during the same period in the 2012–2020 and 2021–2024 seasons.

The CDC reported 91 suspected or confirmed norovirus outbreaks in the United States for the first week of December 2024. This is the highest number recorded for that week since 2012. Outbreaks of norovirus are most common from November to April with millions of people getting sick each year.

No one knows for sure why norovirus cases are surging this season. YaleMedicine states the current strain was once uncommon in the United States, meaning many people lack immunity to the specific strain circulating. Cases normally surge in the winter months when people tend to congregate inside, particularly around the holiday season.

(Number of Suspected or Confirmed Norovirus Outbreaks Reported by NoroSTAT-Participating States Per Week, 2012–2025)

Norovirus is not respiratory, meaning it does not spread by sneezing or coughing. Instead, norovirus spreads by contaminated food, water or surfaces, making it highly contagious. Because of this, proper handwashing with soap and water is the best way to prevent the spread. Most hand sanitizers don’t work well against the virus.

Radiance of the Seas is the sixth vessel to report an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, according to data provided by the CDC. The following ships have reported outbreaks in 2025, along with the identified causation agent. 

• Royal Caribbean International: Radiance of the Seas (2/1–2/8/2025) – Unknown

• Princess Cruises: Coral Princess (1/20–2/5/2025) – Norovirus

• Viking Ocean Cruises: Viking Mars (1/10–1/24/2025) – Unknown

• Holland America Line: Volendam (1/4–1/25/2025) – Norovirus

• Silversea Cruises: Silver Ray (1/4–1/20/2025) – E. coli

• Sea Cloud Cruises: Sea Cloud Spirit (1/4–1/10/2025) – Presumed Ciguatera

In contrast, 18 outbreaks on cruise ships were reported to the CDC in 2024. Although norovirus is often called the “cruise ship disease,” only 1% of reported outbreaks are associated with cruise ships. Outbreaks are more common on college campuses, hospitals, and nursing homes where people are living in close quarters.

What is Royal Caribbean’s protocol?

All cruise lines are required to have robust protocols to address illness outbreaks. Royal Caribbean’s health protocols are enacted once a certain percentage of guests report symptoms.

In a statement to USA Today, Royal Caribbean stated, “Enhanced measures have been implemented onboard in an abundance of caution to protect the health and comfort of all our guests and crew.”

These protocols include the following:

1. Stopping self-service in buffets if the onboard rate exceeds 1.5%
2. Enhanced acute GI training for onboard medical teams
3. Switching to PDI SaniCloth Prime hospital-grade disinfectant wipes
4. Enhanced crew training on what to do when experiencing acute GI symptoms and how to avoid cross-contamination in food and beverage service areas