Royal Caribbean Blog

There’s no such thing as a dumb question, but occasionally we receive a question about cruise ship cabins that makes us scratch our heads. Whether asking if crew members sleep onboard or if it’s easy to fall off your balcony, we’ve received a handful of amusing questions over the years.

It’s understandable that first time cruisers have many questions about their cabin. After all, cruise cabins differ greatly from hotel rooms in size, amenities, service, and cabin categories.

Consider the questions in this post as your personal “Cruise Ship Cabins for Dummies.” We swear you’ll feel smarter and more confident about booking a cruise cabin after you’ve read it.

What is a stateroom on a cruise ship?

A stateroom on a cruise ship is another word for your cabin—the two words are used interchangeably. In a cruise stateroom you’ll find a bed, bathroom, couch or chair, desk, and vanity. The biggest suites may include additional features such as a jacuzzi, espresso maker, and multiple bedrooms.

Related: What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?

There are four main cabin categories on a Royal Caribbean cruise:

• Interior: a small room with no window, balcony, or porthole to the outside
• Oceanview: a room with a porthole looking out to the ocean
• Balcony: a cabin with a private balcony
• Suite: an upgraded room with a larger space and added perks

Every passenger onboard must select a stateroom category when booking a cruise. Balcony cabins are among the most popular, although interior and oceanview rooms are great for those on a budget. Suites, on the other hand, are the most expensive, but offer a much more luxurious cruise experience.

How big are cruise ship cabins?

The size of a cruise ship cabin varies based on the type of cabin and ship you book. Older ships tend to have smaller cabins whereas newer ships feature the largest, most spacious rooms and suites. Some ships may also have 'spacious' cabins available in each category, such as spacious oceanview cabins, which provide more square footage space.

In addition, accessible rooms are significantly larger than standard cabins, but are designed for guests with disabilities. These rooms range from 159 to 298 square feet.

You can expect to see the following cabin sizes on Royal Caribbean, although exact size will differ by ship and stateroom type:

• Interior: 136-172 square feet
• Oceanview: 170-182 square feet
• Balcony: 179-204 square foot room, 40-50 square foot balcony

The size of a Royal Caribbean suite can vary drastically by the type of suite you book. Junior Suites start at 243 square feet (with a 74 square foot balcony) on Royal Caribbean’s oldest ships. The fleet’s newest ships, on the other hand, feature two-story suites with over 1,000 square feet of living space!

Related: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

To find the exact size of your cruise cabin, search Royal Caribbean’s website for a deck plan of your ship.

How many people can stay in a cruise ship cabin?

Most Royal Caribbean cruise cabins accommodate between two and four guests. To accommodate over two guests, your cabin will have a sofa bed, pullman bed(s), or bunk beds. A limited number of family staterooms may be available on your ship, which can accommodate up to five or six guests.

Related: What's the best cruise ship cabin for my family?

Not all cabins can accommodate more than two guests, though, so it’s important to book early if you need more than two guests in the room. Before doing so, however, check the price of two connecting rooms instead of cramming all guests into one room.

Connecting cabins have a door in between the two rooms, allowing you to access both cabins without stepping into the hallway. Occasionally, putting two guests in each connecting cabin is the same price (or even less) as booking all four guests in one room. Plus, you get much more living space.

Does an oceanview cabin have a balcony?

Oceanview cabins on Royal Caribbean cruise ships do not have a balcony. Instead, they have a private porthole facing the ocean. If you want a balcony cabin, you must book a balcony room or suite.

Despite the lack of a balcony, many passengers enjoy cruising in oceanview cabins. The porthole brings natural light and views to the cabin at a reasonable price, and it's certainly an upgrade from a tiny, windowless interior room.

Related: Inside cabin vs oceanview cabin: Are the differences worth an upgrade?

How big is a cruise ship cabin bed?

Most Royal Caribbean cruise cabins have a king size bed, although in reality the bed is made from two twin beds placed together. You can choose to have your beds separated or together depending on your travel party. If you need your beds separated, call housekeeping once onboard to request the change.

Studio cabins—staterooms for just one solo guest—have either a twin size or full size bed. Studio cabins on Radiance and Voyager Class ships have a twin size bed whereas the solo rooms on Quantum and Oasis Class ships have a full size bed. These rooms are smaller than standard cabins, resulting in a smaller bed.

Related: Guide to Royal Caribbean's Single and Studio staterooms

Is there a hair dryer in the room?

All Royal Caribbean cruise cabins come with a hair dryer, although it may not be as powerful as the hair dryer you have at home. You can usually find the hair dryer in one of your cruise cabin drawers. Guests who prefer to bring their own hair dryer can do so as well.

How do I get more towels?

Your stateroom attendant will replenish your bath towels each day when they come to clean your cabin. If you need more towels, you have two options:

• Ask your stateroom attendant for extra towels when you see him or her in the hallway
• Call housekeeping and request that additional towels be brought to your cabin

If you know you will need additional towels every day of the cruise, let your stateroom attendant know on embarkation day so they know to bring extra whenever they clean your cabin.

When does my stateroom attendant clean my cabin?

Most cabins are cleaned once per day by a stateroom attendant onboard. If you’re staying in a suite, your cabin will be cleaned twice per day.

You can choose to have your cabin serviced in either the morning or evening. Housekeeping service usually takes less than fifteen minutes, during which your stateroom attendant picks up the cabin and replenishes toiletries and towels.

Why didn’t my room get cleaned?

On the inside of your cabin door is a two-sided magnet. One side of the magnet has the words Out catching thrills: Please make up my room. The other side says Sleeping off the adventure: Please do not disturb.

Putting this magnet on the outside of your cabin door lets your stateroom attendant know when they are able to clean your cabin. Occasionally, guests may forget to switch the magnet from do not disturb, so their stateroom attendant will not enter the cabin.

If this happens to you, you can always call housekeeping (within cleaning hours) in order to have your room serviced. Or, if you see your stateroom attendant in the hallway, ask them if they are able to clean your room.

Is there a TV in the room?

All Royal Caribbean cruise cabins have a TV. On the TV guests can watch 29 channels, including BBC World News, FOX News, MSNBC, Sky News (Europe and Australia only), ESPN, and ESPN 2.

Exact channel offerings depend on the particular ship and its location. If sailing through remote areas, the channels may encounter outages.

In addition to major news outlets, you will find a channel providing information on your sailing, which includes a live stream from the ship’s bridge and a map of your itinerary.

Some ships also allow guests to order movies on demand for an extra charge as well as check your SeaPass account, view safety and security information, and view the room service menu.

This is available on Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas.

Do I have to share a bathroom with other passengers?

Thankfully, cruise ships are not hostels (phew!), so you will not have to share a bathroom with other passengers. Every cabin on a Royal Caribbean cruise has a private bathroom, where you’ll find a toilet, sink, and shower. Suite category cabins also have a bathtub.

Related: Where does the poop go on a cruise ship?

What is that spaceship sound?

If you hear a “WHOOOOSH” sound every so often on a Royal Caribbean cruise, don’t be alarmed… it’s just the toilet!

Royal Caribbean’s toilets use a suction system to minimize the water needed to flush. As a result—just like on an airplane—flushing your cruise cabin’s toilet can be loud. It’s so loud, in fact, that you can hear the flushing noise from the cabins around you!

Should I be scared about falling off the balcony?

A common fear of first time cruisers is that they will accidentally fall off their balcony into the ocean below, but this is extremely unlikely. The railings on Royal Caribbean’s balcony cabins are around four feet tall, meaning it’s practically impossible to accidentally fall off.

Related: Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean

While stories of passengers falling off balconies on cruise ships occasionally appear in the news, these situations are almost always the result of someone purposely climbing on the balcony railing.

Additionally, balcony doors have a manual lock located high on the door frame. If you’re cruising with kids, using this lock prevents children from accessing the balcony on their own. 

Can other ships see into my cabin while docked in port?

If you have a balcony or oceanview room on your cruise, take extra caution when docked next to other ships in port. If your cabin faces the ship docked next to yours, the passengers on that ship can see onto your balcony and, if your curtains are open, into your cabin!

Before getting changed or walking around your cabin without wearing clothes, double check to make sure no one can see into your cabin from outside!

Do crew members sleep onboard?

Perhaps the silliest question we’re asked about cruise ship cabins is whether or not crew members sleep onboard. Of course they sleep onboard! Where else would they go while in the middle of the ocean?

There are specific areas onboard reserved just for crew members, including crew cabins, a crew buffet, crew gym, and crew bar. These spaces are usually on the bottom decks of the ship.

Related: A look at the secret crew-only areas on the world's biggest cruise ship

Crew cabins are not designed in the same way as guest cabins. They are much smaller and many crew members share a room. Guests on a Royal Caribbean cruise cannot access crew areas, including the cabins.

Royal Caribbean Group is committed to delivering unforgettable vacations responsibly, and 2022 marked a milestone moment in the company's advancement of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts. 

On April 20, Royal Caribbean Group released their 15th annual Seastainability Report, which provides an in-depth update on the the company's corporate responsibility strategy and performance across their three fully owned brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. 

“As we advance on our sustainability journey, our strategic priorities remain rooted in creating business value and uplifting our employees, guests and the communities we visit,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

“Through collaboration and innovation, we continue to make great strides on our commitment of delivering great vacation experiences responsibly.”  

Highlights from the report

The annual report summarizes the targets and strategies used by Royal Caribbean Group to work towards their progress of reducing emissions, promoting the safety and wellbeing of its guests and employees, including its commitments to sustainable tourism, protecting the oceans it sails, and inspiring and empowering the communities it visits. 

New short-term target for the reduction of carbon intensity

To aid in Royal Caribbean Group's goal of Destination New Zero, or the company's vision for zero net emissions by 2025, they set a short-term target to reduce their carbon intensity by double digits by 2025 compared to 2019. 

Related: Royal Caribbean Group announces pledge to get to net zero emissions by 2050

New partnership

They signed a new partnership agreement with the Mærsk McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping in Copenhagen, Denmark to help develop zero carbon technologies and solutions for the maritime industry. 

Diesel pilot

The first renewable diesel pilot in the United States was completed on Navigator of the Seas. 

New net-zero cruise terminal

The world's first-ever net-zero cruise terminal was opened in Galveston, Texas. This extends Royal Caribbean Group's efforts from their ships to their shoreside operations, too.

The $125 million, 161,334-square-foot terminal can accommodate up to 630,000 guests per year!

Related: What you should know about cruising from Galveston instead of Florida

New diversity council

They created a new Executive Diversity Council to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This was completed one year ahead of schedule!  

Gender pay equity

Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the United States shoreside gender pay equity analysis, which shows that 99.98% of women employees are equally compensated compared to their male employees. 

New kickstarter program

They launched the Royal Caribbean Kickstarter Program to support tourism related  entrepreneurs in The Bahamas through trainings and seed-funding. 

Increased number of sustainable tours

Royal Caribbean Group now offers more than 3,500 sustainable tours certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) around the world. 

Food sourcing

The company is on track to meet their goal of sourcing 90% of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified wild-caught seafood and 75% Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified farm-raised seafood.

Their 2022 progress revealed that 83% of their wild-caught seafood was MSC certified, while 75% of their farm-raised seafood was ASC certified. 

World Wildlife Fund

In 2022, Royal Caribbean Group renewed their partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and committed an additional $5 million to preserve ocean health. This partnership originally began in 2016. 

What are the goals of their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts?

The twenty-two goals are broken up into eleven different categories and have a status of "early stages," "on track," or "complete." 

Emissions reduction

• Achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050: early stages
• Reduce carbon intensity by double digits from 2019 numbers by 2025: on track
• Net-zero cruise ship by 2035: early stages

Water and wastewater management

• Increase or maintain 90% potable water production, as well as reduce the potable water bunkering in vulnerable areas by 2025: on track
• 100% of fleet equipped with Advanced Wastewater Purification systems by 2025: on track
• 100% of fleet equipped with IMO and USCG Certified Systems for ballast water by 2025: on track 

Waste management

• Reduced the solid waste offloaded to landfill by 90% compared to the 2007 baseline: completed ahead of schedule 

Circular economy

• Reduce 100% of single-use plastic by 2025: on track

Sustainable sourcing 

• 100% cage-free eggs for global operations by 2025: on track
• 100% of chicken for U.S. ship operations from Global Animal Partnership Certified suppliers by 2025: on track 
• 100% gestation-crate-free pork for global operations by 2025: on track
• 90% Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified wild-caught seafood and 75% Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified farm-raised seafood by 2025: on track
• Obtain MSC and ASC chain of custody certification for all ships by 2023: on track 

Destination stewardship and community development

• Advance destination stewardship and community development through partnerships, initiatives, and responsible practices by 2025: early stages

Responsible tourism

• 60% certification of RCG global tours to GSTC standards by 2026: on track
• Through the implementation of "Blue Green Promise," support sustainable and resilient ocean communities, employee engagement, and volunteering by 2024: early stages

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Formed an Executive Diversity Council that is chaired by the CEO in 2022: complete ahead of schedule
• Annually review gender pay equity for all global employees by 2024: on track
• Implement program to create an inclusive and diverse supply chain by 2024: early stages

Human rights

• Publish updated human rights policy and conduct human rights impact assessments by 2025: on track 

Enterprise risk management

• Integrate ESG risks into enterprise risk management system by 2023: early stages 

Transparency 

• Increase auditability of ESG data and improve climate-related disclosure by 2026: on track

Awards and recognition

The report also outlines various awards and recognition that Royal Caribbean Group received.  

First, they were named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the eighth year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute. 

They were also recognized on the 2022 Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion list by Disability:In, as well as the American Association of People with Disabilities. 

Third, the company ranked #11 in Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America by Healthiest Employers, and, finally, they were awarded one of the 2022 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor. 

When you need to get a hold of Royal Caribbean because you have a question or concern, knowing which way will get you an answer as fast as possible is important.

It's very common for people booked on a cruise to have an issue they want to raise with Royal Caribbean. Whether it's something simple like re-pricing a drink package, or altering the reservation, there seems to be a lot questions about where to turn first.

Royal Caribbean has many departments and means to get in contact with them, but they aren't all created equally. While I love cruising with Royal Caribbean, I've learned there are better ways to get assistance with an issue than others.

Knowing where to turn to when you have a nagging problem or time-sensitive issue can be frustrating if you aren't getting a response in a timely manner.

For anyone looking to get in touch with Royal Caribbean's customer service department, here are the best (and not so great) ways to get it done.

Call

Picking up the phone to contact Royal Caribbean customer service is probably the most obvious method, but it has its pros and cons.

Phone agents are available during the day time, but it's not a 24 hour operation, so if you try to call after hours, you'll have to wait until the next day.

Moreover, hold times on the phone can vary greatly. Sometimes there's barely a wait, while other times hold times can be over an hour.  This is especially true when there is something out of the ordinary occurring, such as a new cruise booking release, weather impact to existing cruises, etc.

Certainly a phone call is quite simple, but it's a bit of a guessing game how long you will have to wait until you get a hold of someone. Plus, Royal Caribbean has different phone numbers for reservations, excursions, groups, and more.  So you if you don't call the right department first, it may be more wasted time.

Still, calling Royal Caribbean on the phone is a good starting point.

The general Royal Caribbean customer service phone number is 1 (800) 256-6649.

If you are booking a new reservation, or need to modify a reservation you made directly with the cruise line, call 1 (866) 562-7625.

If you're going on a cruise the same day you're calling, the phone number is 1 (800) 256-6649 or (305) 539-4107 (Int'l)

If you already went on your cruise and have a question, you can call Post Cruise Assistance at 1 (800) 256-6649.

Social media

One of the best ways to get your concern routed efficiently is to contact Royal Caribbean on social media.

Royal Caribbean's Twitter and Facebook pages are quite responsive with getting you pointed in the right direction.

They may not directly address your concern, but often they inform whom to contact.  If your question is fairly rudimentary, they can also answer questions for you.

Contacting Royal Caribbean's social media for your questions is actually one of the best cruise hacks.

Use your travel agent

One of the best reasons to use a good travel agent is to get answers to tough questions or problems you run into with the cruise line.

Billing discrepancies, changes to your sailings, policy updates and more are usually in any good travel agent's wheel house.

First and foremost, the travel agent is the one that may need to sit on hold for an extended period of time to get the right answer.  Let them do it, while freeing you up to do something else.

Plus, travel agents have resources guests do not, including more leeway with certain policies.  While no travel agent can guarantee they can solve any problem, I'm constantly amazed how some agents are able to "bend" or get exemptions to Royal Caribbean policies, thanks in part to their years of experience and relationships with the cruise line.

When I have a question or problem, the first person I turn to is my travel agent for help and it saves me so much time.

Crown and Anchor phone number

Did you know Royal Caribbean has a dedicated phone number exclusively for Crown and Anchor members?

If you've cruised at least once with Royal Caribbean, you're eligible to use this phone number and I've found on average the hold times to be less for this line.

It's a benefit you receive as a loyal cruiser, so you may as well take advantage of it before trying the main phone numbers.

The Crown and Anchor phone number is 1 (800) 526-9723.

Email the CEO

This customer service hack is becoming more well-known as a way to get help when you have a concern, and that's to email Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.

It's quite clear his (public) email is monitored by a team of employees, so you probably aren't reaching Mr. Bayley.  However, the results speak for themselves.

Time and time again, I see anecdotal evidence from Royal Caribbean Blog readers who reach out to Mr. Bayley via email and get a prompt response. This is especially true for complicated issues related to a personal experience on a ship.

The other methods of contacting Royal Caribbean customer support will be sufficient for most issues, but for escalating a problem, emailing the CEO might work for you.

Michael Bayley's email is [email protected].

Don't email

In my opinion, don't both emailing Royal Caribbean with a problem, change, or concern.

I hear from so many cruisers who complain they emailed the cruise line to get an answer and haven't heard back, and that tells me emailing is not as efficient as the other ways outlined in this article.

Royal Caribbean has various email addresses it provides for many different facets of the business, as well as regions of the world:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Contacting Royal Caribbean customer service via your travel agent or social media is a much better idea.

Don't post on forums

If there's one waste of time in trying to get customer service, it's posting a lengthy message about your problem with the cruise line on a forum or message board.

Whether you try posting your problem that you want rectified on our Royal Caribbean message boards, or a Facebook group, or some other unofficial and unrelated website, you won't get a response from the cruise line.

Some people do this because they believe Royal Caribbean monitors certain sites. While this may be true, that doesn't mean they reach out to customers on unofficial sites to help them with their problem.

If you want to vent, that's fine, but if you want a response, go directly to the cruise line and not a forum post.

Finding a cheap flight deal is almost as exciting as finding a cheap cruise deal, especially when the flight brings you to your cruise embarkation port. It’s cheaper to fly to certain cities than others, though, and we’re sharing the cheapest US destinations to fly to before a cruise.

Flight deal company Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) recently published a report of the US destinations with the most flight deals. They compiled data from cities with over 300,000 people and ranked airports by the amount of flight deals they had sent to Going members within the past six months.

5 of the 10 destinations on their list just so happened to be popular cruise ports, including New York, Fort Lauderdale, and Los Angeles.

For the millions of passengers who fly to their cruise port each year, finding affordable flights is high priority, and here are the cheapest places in the US to fly to for a cruise.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa may be a smaller cruise port, but the city’s airport has direct flights to over 75 cities in the United States. This makes the port easily accessible from most major cities, with 13 airlines flying to and from the airport.

As another plus, Tampa International Airport (TPA) is a hub for Silver Airways, a low-cost airline with direct flights from several cities in the southeast including Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans. Additionally, Frontier, Spirit, and Breeze Airways—three low-cost carriers—serve a number of flights from Tampa.

Even if you don’t book a flight on a budget airline, you can come across some impressive flight deals to Tampa. A few of Going’s recent flight deals to Tampa have included an $88 roundtrip flight from Richmond to Tampa and a $158 roundtrip flight from Detroit to Tampa.

Where can you cruise to from Tampa?

Everything from short 4-night cruises to 2 week itineraries are offered from Tampa. 

Most 4-night cruises visit either Cozumel, Mexico or both Key West, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas, although some may visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Progreso, Mexico.

5-night itineraries visit two ports with two days at sea. Ports include Key West, Nassau, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Progreso.

Weeklong cruises can travel further from Tampa to visit between 3 and 4 ports in the Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, and Southern Caribbean, with some traveling as far south as Costa Rica!

The longest itineraries, over 12 nights, are repositioning cruises, during which a ship transfers homeports from one city to another. It’s common to see ships repositioning from Tampa to Los Angeles or Boston prior to the summer cruise season, and they typically offer a fantastic value.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Tampa?

Cruise ships arriving and departing Tampa must pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and this limits the size of cruise ships that can sail from Tampa.

Royal Caribbean can only offer cruises from Tampa on Vision and Radiance Class cruise ships, as their smaller size allows the ships to safely pass under the bridge.

Related: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

You shouldn't let an older, smaller cruise ship deter you from cruising from Tampa. Many passengers love sailing on an older ship due to the more relaxed atmosphere onboard, more affordable prices, and ability to fit into unique ports.

Currently, cruises from Tampa are offered on Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts is a seasonal cruise port, with Royal Caribbean cruises only offered in the fall, usually from September through early November.

However, the itinerary options and cheap flights to Boston make it an enticing option for a cruise embarkation port. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) offers direct flights to and from 87 cities in the United States.

13 domestic airlines serve the airport—it’s a hub airport for Delta Air Lines and Cape Air—and a focus city for JetBlue. This means deals to the city are common, especially during the fall months which are outside the peak summer season.

Some of the deals Going has found to Boston include a $147 roundtrip flight from Savannah to Boston and an $87 roundtrip flight from Washington, DC to Boston.

Where can you cruise to from Boston?

Boston’s location in the northeast makes the Caribbean a far reach—it would require several days at sea each way. Instead, cruises from Boston primarily serve the northeast and Canada cruise market.

While an occasional 4 or 5-night cruise may depart from Boston, the majority of cruises from the city are 7-night Canada cruises. These sailings visit three or four ports in the northeast of the United States and Canada, which vary between:

• Portland, Maine
• Saint John, New Brunswick
• Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Bar Harbor, Maine
• Sydney, Nova Scotia

Related: Why fall is a great time to cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia

A major appeal of a Canada and New England cruise is the opportunity to see the gorgeous fall foliage of the region. Beyond just the picturesque scenery, however, are quaint towns with delightful cuisine and intriguing history.

Whether kayaking in the Bay of Fundy, tasting lobster rolls in Portland, or visiting breweries in Halifax, you’re sure to find something interesting to experience on a cruise to Canada and New England.

Or try something even more unique: a cruise to Greenland

In search of one of Royal Caribbean’s most unique cruise itineraries? Wave goodbye to busy Boston and set sail for the Arctic.

While uncommon, Royal Caribbean occasionally offers cruise itineraries to Greenland from Boston. Currently available to book is a 15-night Greenland cruise, which visits some seriously unique ports.

En route to Greenland, Grandeur of the Seas will make port stops in Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Once in the Arctic, she calls upon Nanortalik, Qaqortoq, and Nuuk, and the final port stop is a day in St. John’s, Newfoundland before returning to Boston.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Boston?

Royal Caribbean homeports one ship in Boston each fall season. For the fall of 2023, Serenade of the Seas will be based in Boston whereas 2024 will bring Grandeur of the Seas to the city.

As a Radiance Class and Vision Class ship respectively, the two ships offer a traditional cruising experience perfect for the quiet, unique ports visited on itineraries from Boston.

While they may lack the bells and whistles like waterslides, surfing simulators, and Broadway shows, they still offer everything you need in a cruise vacation, including comfortable cabins, an adults-only Solarium, and a selection of complimentary and specialty dining venues.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Two of the busiest cruise ports in the country are easily accessible with a wide selection of affordable direct flights. Due to the close proximity of Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), the two airports compete with each other for passenger traffic, which helps bring amazing flight deals to the region.

Fort Lauderdale’s airport has direct flights to over 88 destinations in the US and is served by over 15 domestic airlines. As a focus city for Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and Allegiant, as well as a hub airport for Silver Airways, it’s common to find cheap flights to the airport on both budget and full service airlines.

Related: Guide to cruises from Fort Lauderdale

If you’re flying American Airlines, you’ll find a range of deals to the airline’s hub at Miami International Airport. Outside of American Airlines, 8 other domestic airlines serve 78 nonstop routes to and from US destinations, and it’s a focus city for budget airlines Frontier and Spirit.

On average, Going has sent subscribers 9 deals per month to South Florida, which have included a $178 roundtrip flight from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale and a $98 roundtrip flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale.

Related: Guide to cruises from Miami

Where can you cruise to from Miami and Fort Lauderdale?

South Florida is the hub of the cruising industry—its proximity to the Caribbean makes it a short sail away from the nearby Bahamas or more distant Aruba.

A quick search for cruise itineraries from Miami and Fort Lauderdale brings up nearly endless itinerary options, including:

• 3-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas
• 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, San Juan, and St. Thomas
• 8-night Southern Caribbean cruise visiting Curacao, Aruba, and Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 15-night Transatlantic cruise visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, Tenerife, Seville, Lisbon, and Vigo
• 14-night Panama Canal cruise visiting Cozumel, the Cayman Islands, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Puntarenas, and Huatulco

Whether you’re searching for a weekend getaway or longer, more in-depth itinerary, you’re sure to find a cruise that fits your needs sailing from Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Miami/Fort Lauderdale?

Miami and Fort Lauderdale offer cruises year round, with the widest selection of ships available to book during the winter months. Throughout the year, you can find cruises on every class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, from the fleet’s smallest ships to its newest and biggest cruise ships.

In fact, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Icon of the Seas, will set sail from Miami starting in January 2024. With a waterpark, indoor AquaTheater, exclusive suites-only neighborhood, and upgraded, family-focused amenities, Icon of the Seas will be a gamechanger for the cruising industry not just in South Florida, but in the world.

You can currently book cruise itineraries from South Florida on over 15 Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Because there are so many options available, remember to do thorough research into which cruise ship will fit your needs best. Consider the ship’s size, amenities, dining options, cabin categories, and entertainment before booking to ensure you don’t end up disappointed with the ship once onboard. 

Related: 8 questions to ask yourself before picking a cruise ship

Los Angeles, California

Getting to cruise ports on the east coast is a trek for west coast cruisers. Luckily, Royal Caribbean restarted cruises from Los Angeles in 2021, and flight deals to the Los Angeles metropolitan area are frequent and cheap.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the second busiest airport in the United States, with direct flights to a whopping 113 domestic destinations. 14 domestic airlines serve the airport and it's a hub for four airlines: United, American, Delta, and Alaska Airlines.

In addition to LAX, however, are several other airports in the Los Angeles area, including Long Beach Airport (LGB) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR). This provides extra competition in the region, which results in lower prices across the board.

Going has sent subscribers an average of 12 flight deals per month to Los Angeles. Flight deals included a $78 roundtrip flight from Las Vegas to Long Beach and a $138 roundtrip flight from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Where can you cruise to from Los Angeles?

Royal Caribbean’s itineraries from Los Angeles are more limited than those in the Caribbean due to the fewer number of cruise ports available. Whereas the Caribbean has dozens of cruise ports, the west coast only has a handful, most of which are in Mexico.

There are three main cruise itineraries from Los Angeles:

• 3-night weekend cruise visiting Ensenada, Mexico with one sea day
• 4-night cruise visiting Ensenada, Mexico and Catalina island with one sea day
• 7-night Mexican Riviera cruise visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta

Related: Mexican Riviera cruise guide

Occasionally you can also find repositioning cruises to and from Los Angeles. While en route to Alaska for the summer season, some ships may offer a 5 or 6-night Pacific Coastal cruise visiting ports such as Santa Barbara, California and Astoria, Oregon.

Longer repositioning itineraries include Panama Canal cruises, which depart Los Angeles on the way to Florida. These itineraries visit ports in the Caribbean and Central America, including Cabo San Lucas, San Juan del Sur, and Cartagena.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Los Angeles?

Navigator of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship based in Los Angeles. Although the ship launched in 2002, she was recently refurbished in 2019 to include many of the cruise line’s top features and amenities, including a Caribbean resort-style pool deck, waterslides, and updated dining venues.

As a Voyager Class cruise ship, Navigator of the Seas can hold 4,000 passengers, making her neither the biggest nor smallest of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships. Many cruisers enjoy the size of a Voyager Class vessel as it offers a nice blend between a traditional and modern cruising experience.

Related: Navigator of the Seas Guide & Review

Occasional itineraries along the Pacific Coast and Panama Canal are offered on Radiance Class cruise ships. You can currently book these itineraries on Brilliance of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas.

New York City, New York

It’s easy to find cheap flight deals to New York City’s three major airports. JFK offers direct flights to 70 domestic destinations whereas LaGuardia (LGA) flies to 81 and Newark (EWR) to 93 US cities. Many major US airlines have a hub in New York City as well, including United at EWR, American at LGA, and Delta at JFK.

The sheer number of flight options available to and from New York City make flight deals frequent. Going consistently sends cheap deals to the Big Apple, and you can almost certainly find a cheap deal from most major domestic airports in the United States.

If you’re cruising from New York City, the most convenient airport option is Newark Liberty International Airport, as it is the closest to Royal Caribbean’s terminal in Cape Liberty, New Jersey.

Where can you cruise to from New York?

Cruises from New York sail year round. Depending on the season, you can cruise to the Caribbean, Bermuda, or the northeast and Canada. Transatlantic cruises are also offered in late spring in preparation for the European cruise season.

Related: Guide to cruises from New York

During the winter months, cruises depart Cape Liberty en route to sunshine and warmer temperatures in the Bahamas and Caribbean. Most itineraries are 7-night cruises visiting Cape Canaveral, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau, although longer itineraries may visit ports in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.

Bermuda cruises are offered from May to October. These 5-night itineraries include two days at sea and two days in Bermuda with an overnight visit.

If you’re cruising from New York in the fall, you can also cruise to the northeast and Canada. 9-night itineraries from Cape Liberty to the northeast include port stops in Boston, Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax, and Saint John.

Occasionally, one-way fall foliage itineraries may be offered as well. These 10-night cruises travel one-way from Cape Liberty to Quebec City (and vice versa) during the peak fall foliage season. Ports on these itineraries include Boston, Saint John, Charlottetown, and Saguenay.

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from New York?

You can currently book cruises from New York on 7 Royal Caribbean cruise ships: Anthem of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas.

Exact ships can vary by season and year, but you will find a wide variety of Royal Caribbean vessels sailing from New York, including some of the fleet’s newest, most modern ships.

How to find cheap flights for other cruise ports

If you would prefer to cruise from a cruise port not mentioned on this list, there are still ways to find cheap flight deals. Whether you’re flying to Houston, London, or Singapore, here are our top tips for finding a cheap flight for your cruise vacation:

Track flight prices on Google Flights

Google Flights has a tracking tool in which you can be notified when a flight price drops or increases to a city on a particular date. If you’re eyeing flight prices to Barcelona, for instance, consider tracking the flight so you can be notified whenever the price changes.

Subscribe to a flight deal newsletter

If you’d prefer to be notified about flight deals rather than search for them yourself, consider subscribing to a flight deal newsletter. Going, for example, finds deals from your chosen US airport and sends an alert when cheap deals arise.

The company has three subscription models: Limited, Premium, and Elite. Each model comes with its own deal notifications, from low frequency economy class deals to high frequency business and first class deals.

Check nearby airports

Another way to find cheap flight deals is by checking prices at all airports in your destination. If you’re cruising from Los Angeles, search for flights not only to LAX, but also to Burbank, Long Beach, and Orange County. You may find cheaper flights and better itineraries when expanding your search coverage.

If you are wanting an elevated cruising experience, you might be considering booking a suite on your next Royal Caribbean cruise. 

Royal Caribbean suites provide more than extra living space. They come with a wide range of perks that are meant to maximize the value of your vacation through special privileges and upgraded amenities.

What exactly are the perks of a Royal Caribbean suite? Those in Junior Suites will find that they are not eligible for the full onboard suite experience, which may be why you are considering a Grand Suite. They are the lowest category of suite available that can experience the full list of perks. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the perks you can receive when staying in a Grand Suite. 

What ships have Grand Suites onboard?

First and foremost, can you book a Grand Suite on any cruise? It is a good question to ask, especially since some of Royal Caribbean's newest suites are only available on certain classes and/or ships. 

You will be happy to know that you can find Grand Suites on any ship, whether it is Grandeur of the Seas or the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas. That being said, the number of available suites will be fewer on older ships.

Grandeur, for instance, only has sixteen Grand Suites, two of which are the larger 2-bedroom option. In comparison, Wonder of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, has 28. Wonder, however, does not have any 2-bedroom Grand Suites onboard. 

What perks come with staying in a Grand Suite?

Grand Suites on Vision, Voyager, Radiance, and Freedom Class ships come with fewer perks than those on Oasis and Quantum ships. 

On the latter two classes, Royal Caribbean introduced what is known as the Royal Suite Class. Suites onboard these ships are broken up into three different categories -- Sea, Sky, and Star -- that all come with different benefits. 

First, we will go over the benefits available for all guests in Grand Suites, then we will go into the specifics of the perks on Oasis and Quantum ships:

• Royal Caribbean bathrobes (for onboard use only)
• Luxury bathroom amenities 
• Lavazza espresso machine 
• Pillowtop mattress
• Priority boarding and departure 
• Concierge service
• Suite Lounge/Concierge Club access with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails every evening)
• Priority dining, spa, and shore excursion bookings
• Bridge, galley, and backstage tours

• VIP pool deck seating (not available on Vision or Radiance Class)
• Priority tendering 
• Welcome Evian water & fruit 
• Ability to order from the Main Dining Room for in-suite dining (during operating hours)
• Complimentary 24-hour room service
• Private breakfast and lunch seating (location varies by ship and sailing)
• Departure breakfast 
• Reserved seating for shows 
• Complimentary pressing on first formal night
• Extra Crown & Anchor loyalty points

Priority boarding and departure 

Embarkation and disembarkation is already hectic enough. When staying in a Grand Suite, however, you will be eligible for priority boarding and departure.

Since you will be one of the first people onboard, you can enjoy a leisurely lunch in the buffet and have shorter lines for any amenities that are open, like the FlowRider, water slides, etc. 

Concierge service

Even if you have cruised before, never underestimate the benefits of a concierge. It is their job to help make your cruise and suite experience as enjoyable as possible. 

They will help with anything from booking shore excursions and dining reservations at specialty restaurants, to settling billing discrepancies, checking in for your return flight, and escorting you off the ship on disembarkation day. 

Suite Lounge/Concierge Club

In addition to being able to utilize the concierge, you will also have access to a private onboard lounge. Each everything, they will serve cocktails and a selection of hors d’oeuvres for you to enjoy with other suite guests. 

Since the Suite Lounge/Concierge Club is open during the day, it is a great place to escape for a little bit to recharge without returning to your stateroom. 

Priority dining, spa, and shore excursion bookings

If your cruise vacation snuck up on you and you forgot to make reservations in advance, do not worry! Your concierge will be able to assist. 

Is there a specialty restaurant that you would like to eat at? What about an afternoon at the spa on a sea day? Be prepared with this information when your concierge reaches out to you, which will be about a week or so before departure. 

Priority tendering

Is your cruise visiting ports of call that must be accessed via a tender boat? 

Staying in a Grand Suite means that you can bypass the tender line and be one of the first guests off! This will help you make the most out of your day in port. 

Behind-the-scenes tours

Have you ever wanted to get a behind-the-scenes look of a cruise ship?

One perk of staying in a Grand Suite is that you will have access to complimentary backstage tours. While the exact tour will vary, you will most likely be taken to see the bridge, galley, and/or theatre. 

If you have any interest in this, it is worth reaching out to your concierge to see what is available on your sailing. 

VIP pool deck seating

If you are on a Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, or Quantum Class ship, you will have a reserved section of the pool deck that is saved for suite guests. Note, though, that seating is still first-come, first-served.

Reserved seating for shows 

The entertainment offerings onboard Royal Caribbean ships are some of the best at sea. It makes sense that you would want to see as many shows as possible!

You will not have to worry about arriving early and locating a seat, as the main theatre, Studio B, AquaTheatre, and Two70 all have reserved seating for suite guests. 

Ordering from the Main Dining Room menu for in-suite dining

Perhaps you had a long day ashore or you are just wanting a lazy evening in your suite.

You will not have to worry about missing out on the delicious offering in the Main Dining Room since you have the ability to order straight from the menu and have it delivered! 

Complimentary 24-hour room service

Since you can only order from the Main Dining Room menu when it is open, it is likely that you might find yourself caving an in-suite snack outside of their operational hours.

With 24/7 complimentary room service, you can order salads, pasta, quesadillas, burgers, and more whenever you would like without incurring the $7.95 delivery fee and 18% service charge. 

Private breakfast and lunch seating

Start each morning off right with a relaxing breakfast in a specialty restaurant.

Note that the menu is similar to those of the Main Dining Room; however, you will not have to wait for a table or fight the crowds in the Windjammer!

In addition to breakfast, Grand Suite (and above) guests are also offered private seating for lunch. 

Departure breakfast 

While nobody is ever truly ready to leave the ship and return to everyday life, Grand Suite guests are able to transition with a little bit more ease thanks to the private departure breakfast. 

Complimentary pressing on first formal night

If your clothing got wrinkled in your suitcase, you have the chance to get a complimentary pressing on your itinerary's first formal night. 

If you are wanting to maximize your suite benefits, this is a great way to do so, as evening gowns and suits usually cost between $7.50 and $15.00 per item for everyone else on the ship. 

Extra Crown & Anchor loyalty points

Normally, you get one Crown & Anchor loyalty point for each night of the cruise. For a 3-night vacation, you would earn 3 points, for a 7-night cruise, you would earn 7, and so on. 

Those staying in a Grand Suite, however, will get two points per night. A 3-night cruise would get you 6 points, while a 7-night would get you 14. 

If you are hoping to climb the Crown & Anchor loyalty ladder faster, this is one way to do it!

Barefoot Beach

This benefit will only be applicable to those whose itinerary includes a stop in Labadee, Haiti. Here, suite guests can relax on the suites-only Barefoot Beach. 

In addition to having a private beach away from the crowds, you will also have upgraded lunch offerings compared to the other buffets. 

To enhance your experience even more, you could rent one of the cabanas at Barefoot Beach for an extra cost. 

What perks do Grand Suite guests on Oasis and Quantum Class ships receive? 

Onboard Oasis and Quantum Class ships, Grand Suites are considered to be part of the Sky Class tier of the Royal Suite Class. 

They have some of the same benefits as those staying in Grand Suites on other ships, such as the concierge service, priority boarding and departure, reserved seating for shows (although reservations are required), Suite Lounge access with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails each evening, dedicated suites-only sun deck, bathrobes for onboard use, luxury mattress and bathroom amenities, and a Lavazza Espresso Coffee Machine.

Note that some benefits that Grand Suite guests have on other ships are not available to those on Quantum and Oasis Class. You cannot, for instance, order from the Main Dining Room menu to enjoy a private in-suite meal. 

Coastal Kitchen

Rather than have private dining in a specialty restaurant, Oasis and Quantum Class ships have an entire restaurant that is only available to suite guests: Coastal Kitchen.

Dining here offers a more intimate experience than elsewhere on the ship. Plus, Grand Suite guests are able to eat here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In theory, they never have to step foot in the Main Dining Room or Windjammer! 

Complimentary internet

You will also get complimentary VOOM, so you do not have to worry about being disconnected or paying extra for a Wi-Fi package!

How much does staying in a Grand Suite cost?

If you are trying to cruise on a budget, staying in a Grand Suite is probably not the most economical choice, as you could devote that money to other experiences, such as shore excursions, specialty dining, etc. 

If, however, you are curious to see how much a Grand Suite costs, it depends on the ship, time of year, and length of itinerary.

As with most cruises, the newer the ship, the most the suite will cost. 

A Grand Suite on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Wonder of the Seas departing in June 2024 starts at $7,145 per person, based on double occupancy. In comparison, a standard ocean view balcony is currently going for $1,988 per person.  

As of April 2023, Wonder of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's newest ship and holds the title for the largest cruise ship in the world. Grand Suites on older ships often do not cost as much. In fact, balconies on older ships are far less, too.

Looking at a 7-night Alaska cruise onboard Brilliance of the Seas that also departs in June 2024, an obstructed balcony cabin starts at $1,058, while a one-bedroom Grand Suite starts at $2,646 per person, based on double occupancy. 

Suffice to say, the pricing of a Grand Suite can vary. If booking one interests you, it is best to conduct your own research or reach out to a travel agent who can assist you with the booking process. 

One of the most common questions we're asked is when is the best time to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package so you can get the lowest price.

Once you have booked your Royal Caribbean cruise, you will gain access to the online Cruise Planner, which will allow you to browse potential cruise add-ons that will enhance your vacation experience. 

While there is a lot included in your cruise fare, select non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages do cost extra, so that is something that you will want to keep in mind when thinking about your cruise budget. To help make the cruise feel more inclusive, you may opt to buy a drink package. 

There are three Royal Caribbean drink packages for guests to choose from: the Deluxe Beverage Package, Royal Refreshment Package, and Classic Soda Package. 

When, however, should you purchase a drink package for your upcoming cruise? There are a few things to consider to ensure that you get the best possible price. 

When is the best time to purchase a Royal Caribbean drink package?

Since you have no idea whether the price of the package will increase or decrease, the best time to purchase a package is right now. This will ensure that you lock in the current rate and do not end up paying more. 

As mentioned earlier, if the price does go down, you can simply cancel your current package with no penalty and repurchase it. 

Regardless of what you do, you should not wait until boarding the ship to purchase any add-ons. Even though Royal Caribbean frequently offers a "buy one get one 50%" sale for the Deluxe Beverage Package on the ship, you will almost certainly end up paying more than if you purchased it in advance. 

Depending on when your cruise is, buying the drink package now might allow you to break up paying for different parts of your cruise vacation. If you get the package on the ship, you will have to pay for it at the end, as well as for any other purchases that you make during the trip, souvenir shopping, etc. 

Related: When should you buy Royal Caribbean drink package, wifi, tours & other add-ons

How should I know when to buy a drink package?

You should frequently check the Cruise Planner until you see a price that you feel comfortable paying. Even after you get the package, it is worth checking the Cruise Planner every so often, as the price can drop! 

If that happens, you are able to cancel your old package for a full refund and repurchase it at the lower price. This does, however, take a little bit of time and patience, as you have to remember to check the Cruise Planner. Plus, there is no guarantee that the pricing will change.

You would hate to pass up on a sale to later find that the price increased! You never know if it will drop back to the price you wish you had locked in. 

Are there Royal Caribbean drink package sales?

Royal Caribbean runs sales on its drink packages quite often, and you can usually find a discount available on the Cruise Planner site.

Usually, the drink package sale nets up to 40% off onboard prices, but you'll find a discount somewhere closer to 20-30%.

Moreover, the price can change on a daily basis, so the price you see today could be different tomorrow, or next month, or next year.

The best drink package sale is usually on Black Friday, but that does not mean that there are not other great deals offered throughout the year. 

With any sale, the most important thing you will want to pay attention to is the daily rate. The price of the package during a "buy one get 50% off" sale might be higher (or lower) than what is offered during other promotions. 

As of April 14, the daily rate for a Deluxe Beverage Package onboard Navigator of the Seas is $75.99. When I checked the pricing the other day, it was over $80 per day! 

Right now, the Royal Refreshment Package's is advertised as being 20% the onboard rate, or $27.99 per day. Generally, the discount for the Classic Soda Package stays the same, and you can get it for around $9.00 or $10.00 per day if purchased in advance. 

While not as frequently talked about, the Cafe Select Coffee Card, which gives you 15 espresso-based premium coffees, never goes on sale. It remains the same price whether you get it the day you book or cruise or the week before! For the same Navigator trip, it is $31.00. 

These prices are given just to illustrate what you may find. To see what the daily rate is for your cruise, log in and check your Cruise Planner. 

Deluxe Beverage Package

Unlike other mainstream cruise lines, Royal Caribbean only offers one alcoholic beverage package. You can enjoy just about any non-alcoholic beverage, spirit, cocktail, glass of wine, or beer, so long as it is no more than $14.00. If there is a drink that costs more than $14.00, the difference plus gratuity will be charged to your SeaPass card. 

Below is a list of what is included with the Deluxe Beverage Package:

• Cocktails, spirits, liqueurs
• Beer
• Wine (by the glass)
• Zero-proof cocktails
• Premium coffees & teas
• Johnny Rockets Milkshakes
• Fountain sodas / Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages + Coca-Cola souvenir cup
• Bottled still and sparkling water
• Fresh squeezed juices
• 40% discount on wines under $100 and 20% discount on wines over $100

Royal Refreshment Package

The Royal Refreshment Package is the more inclusive non-alcoholic package that, unlike the Deluxe Beverage Package, is available to guests of all ages and is a great option for children and teens that like to drink tea, premium coffee, and fresh squeezed juice. Plus, they will be able to sip on virgin cocktails. 

Every person that purchases this package will be able to enjoy the following:

• Premium coffees and teas
• Bottled still and sparking water
• Fresh squeezed orange juice
• Johnny Rockets Milkshakes
• Zero-proof cocktails
• Fountain sodas / Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages + Coca-Cola souvenir cup

Classic Soda Package

The Classic Soda Package is the cheapest drink package offered by Royal Caribbean; it is also the most restrictive, including only fountain soda and access to the Freestyle soda machine, as well as a Coca-Cola souvenir cup.  

If you decide to purchase any other drinks, whether it is a bottle of water, glass of wine, or premium coffee, each will be billed to your onboard account to be settled at the end of the cruise. 

How much do Royal Caribbean drink packages cost?

Royal Caribbean uses a variable pricing model for their drink packages, which means that the price per night varies based on ship, itinerary, and sail date. In other words, there is no "set" price for drink packages. 

The published onboard rates for an upcoming cruise onboard Navigator of the Seas are as follows:

• Deluxe Beverage Package: $102 per night
• Royal Refreshment Package: $36 per night
• Classic Soda Package: $13.50 per night

In comparison, here are the onboard rates for a cruise onboard Jewel of the Seas:

• Deluxe Beverage Package: $90 per night
• Royal Refreshment Package: $36 per night
• Classic Soda Package: $13.50 per night

None of these prices include the added 18% gratuity.

If you plan ahead, it is unlikely that you will ever pay the onboard rate. Let's talk about Cruise Planner sales and why they are so important.

Is a drink package worth it?

With the Cruise Planner sales, you would need to be able to drink around 5-6 beverages per day to breakeven. Depending on what promotion you are able to find, the average could decrease. 

For those who are hesitant about their ability to maintain that average, whether it is because you have a port intensive itinerary or are a light drinker, a lower price means fewer daily drinks to get your money's worth! 

If you drink enough to make it worth the investment, a drink package can certainly save you money.

On the other hand, if you are more concerned with the convenience and being able to pay one price for all of your alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic drinks, the package is wroth the price in other ways! 

It is important to think about whether or not you get free drinks, too. If you are a Diamond Crown & Anchor member, it might not make sense to get a drink package since you have four daily vouchers!

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

I get asked all the time which Royal Caribbean cruise ship is my favorite, and while there are lots of good reasons to pick different ships, I think Mariner of the Seas is without question the best value in the fleet today.

This week I'm sailing on Mariner of the Seas for the 12th time. I didn't even know I had sailed on her quite that many times until I looked up my cruise history, and I think a big reason I keep coming back is worth the ship has for how I like to cruise.

While I might enjoy a ship that has more onboard activities like Wonder of the Seas, or a ship with more for my kids to do like Odyssey of the Seas, Mariner seems to balance what you get for your the money spent quite well.

Of course, value is an extremely subjective proposition, but here's why I think the onboard experience balanced with the price is worth considering every time for budget cruisers.

Cruise ship value

When I think about the value you get as a consumer on any cruise ship, I think about the cost of the cruise versus what you get to see, do, and eat onboard the ship.

On the extreme ends, a brand new cruise ship, like Wonder of the Seas, is on average going to have the higher price tag because it's a new ship and Royal Caribbean charges a premium for its newest vessels.  

Of course, Wonder of the Seas also packs in the absolute newest (and arguably best) things to do. In fact, there's a ton to do onboard.

On the other end of the spectrum is probably a Vision Class ship, such as Grandeur of the Seas.  

Grandeur is the oldest ship in the fleet and also doesn't have as many whizz-bang features and amenities as Wonder.  But it tends to be priced substantially less as well.

The Voyager Class ships (of which Mariner of the Seas is one) benefits from being having a big ship feel, but is old enough now that the prices are much lower than newer ships.

Generally speaking, as a ship ages and newer ships enter the fleet, the average price tends to cost less than in years past. Essentially, the price for Mariner of the Seas today is probably less than it was years ago.

When I consider a cruise on Mariner of the Seas, I see a great price without compromising too much on what you can do onboard.

Amplification was a game changer for Mariner

I liked Mariner of the Seas before she was upgraded, but Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplification program hit a home run with the changes they made to Mariner.

In 2017, Royal Caribbean announced a ship upgrade program that would new amenities to many of its existing ships, including Mariner of the Seas.

The goal of the program was to add new pool deck attractions, bars, and dining options. By making these upgrades, it would offer more for guests to enjoy, provide added incentive to book an older ship, and generate additional revenue for the cruise line.

Mariner of the Seas received $120 million in upgrades:

• Sky Pad bungee trampoline experience
• The Perfect Storm waterslides 
• Laser Tag: Battle for Planet Z
• Escape Room: The Observatorium
• The Bamboo Room
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Jamie’s Italian specialty restaurant
• Izumi Hibachi and Sushi specialty restaurant

In retrospect, Mariner got one of the best upgrades across the fleet. While I think Oasis of the Seas probably came out with the overall best upgrades and I prefer the water slides that Navigator of the Seas got, Mariner is no slouch with its additions.

Activities all day and night

One thing I like about Mariner of the Seas is the variety of activities onboard.

The sports deck has a FlowRider, water slides, climbing structure, hammocks, and even (a now defunct) SkyPad. There's also a great mini-golf course on the front of the ship.

From a family perspective, I wish it had a Splashaway Bay area for the kids, but as long as the kids can get wet and splash, they're content with any pool.

Adding escape rooms has proven to be a real hit with guests, and I've done the escape room twice on Mariner (it had been sufficiently long enough between visits that I forgot almost all the sequences) and it's a real challenge!

In the evening, I think this is where the layout of Mariner and venues really shine. The pub and Schooner Bar are, in my opinion, the best size and layout for these venues because it's big enough to have a crowd for the live music without becoming immense.

Ditto for Boleros, especially with the changeover to turn the other half into Starbucks. I never liked having half of Boleros on the other side of the Centrum and disconnected from the music.

Royal Caribbean traditionalists will also love the Viking Crown Lounge on deck 14. Fantastic views, and Ellington's is a great venue for late-night dance parties.

Dining favorites

One of Royal Caribbean's goals was to bring new dining choices to its ships with the Royal Amplification program, and I really like the choices Mariner has now.

I could spend half this article waxing poetically about the virtues of Izumi hibachi because of how satisfying it is to dine here each and every time.

Teppanyaki dining has been incredibly popular and the venue on Mariner is quite large, as they tried to include as many hibachi tables as possible. Based on how often Izumi sells out, I'd say it was the right move.

Of course Mariner has Chops Grille, and it has Jamie's Italian.  While I think Jamie's Italian has lost top billing among Italian cuisine on Royal Caribbean ships from the revamped Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, I never leave Jamie's hungry.

And then there's the Bamboo Room, which is a tiki lounge on the Royal Promenade and it's only available on Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas.

Maybe I'm a sucker for a tiki bar, but I really enjoy having drinks here with friends and just hanging out. Plus, they have a fun and different drink menu from other bars.

A look at Mariner of the Seas pricing

If all of this sounds good, let's look at the prices for Mariner of the Seas that exemplify the value.

The price for any Royal Caribbean cruise will vary from sailing to sailing depending on how many cabins have been booked, time of year, and other factors, but it's rare to not see cheap rates when planning ahead.

Prices for a Mariner of the Seas cruise start as low as $290 per person when the ship is based in Galveston, Texas.

Some of the best values on a Royal Caribbean cruise can be found on transatlantic itineraries, but what is it really like to spend nearly two weeks at sea?

A repositioning cruise is an itinerary that repositions a ship from one homeport to another, and it's quite different from a regular cruise itinerary. These sailings typically feature a large number of sea days while traveling between continents. They are also longer than most cruises—usually between eleven and eighteen nights.

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Josh Crothers recently sailed on a 12-night Symphony of the Seas cruise from Miami to Barcelona. The itinerary included ten days at sea, and he’s sharing his repositioning cruise experience with us today.

We asked him how his experience differed from a regular Royal Caribbean cruise, whether or not he felt stir crazy onboard with so many sea days, and how much he paid for his sailing across the pond.

Let’s dive in and learn more about these unique Royal Caribbean cruise itineraries.

Josh found an incredible deal on his transatlantic cruise, which gave him the impetus to book the sailing.

“The price was amazing. I paid less than $1,100 for an oceanview balcony cabin solo. I have more than 340 Crown & Anchor Society Points, so I was able to use that discount as well,” he explained.

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

Spending $1,100 for a 12-night cruise brings the price per night to only $91, which provides an excellent value on a two week vacation in a balcony cabin. It also includes accommodation, food, drinks, activities, and entertainment!

Additionally, Josh was able to use airline miles for his flight to Miami to board the cruise and his flight home from Barcelona after the cruise, which saved him hundreds of dollars.

When crossing from the United States to Europe, you pass through many time zones. We asked Josh how Royal Caribbean handled the time zone changes onboard.

“We had six time changes during our cruise, moving one hour ahead on days three, four, six, seven, eight, and ten,” Josh said. “Day three coincided with the change from Standard Time to Daylight Savings time for a net of moving five hours ahead.”

On his transatlantic cruise, the time changes occurred at noon, which meant it went from 11:59AM to 1PM! The ship’s captain explained how the reason for the midday time zone change was for the crew members.

A westbound transatlantic cruise sees the time change at 2AM each night, giving passengers an extra hour of sleep. On an eastbound transatlantic, however, changing the time forward at 2AM would result in crew members losing an hour of sleep at every time zone change.

Josh’s transatlantic cruise had ten sea days and two port days. With so many days at sea and so few port days, we were curious if Josh felt bored when crossing the Atlantic.

“I love sea days,” Josh shared. “This cruise had ten sea days straight, so it was an excellent opportunity to relax and recharge without the hustle and bustle of getting ready to go ashore each morning. I looked at this cruise to relax and recharge. A routine was developed during the sea days, and I quite enjoyed that.”

Josh explained his daily schedule as follows:

• Woke up with the Cruise Director’s announcement at 9:30AM
• Lounged around his cabin until lunchtime
• Ate lunch at the Windjammer or Dog House
• Post-lunch afternoon nap or worked on personal projects
• Dinner at the Windjammer followed by a trip to the casino
• Drinks at Vintages until 10PM
• Drinks at the pub until closing time at 1AM
• Go back to the cabin or visit the casino a second time

With so many dining venues on Symphony of the Seas, Josh was able to eat at a variety of restaurants, from the Windjammer to specialty restaurants, and this helped combat the monotony of spending so many days at sea in a row.

In addition, Josh’s Symphony of the Seas cruise visited two ports in Spain: Valencia and Málaga. He had been to Valencia on a prior cruise, so he stayed onboard while there. In Málaga, however, Josh booked a city tour shore excursion from Royal Caribbean.

“It was very walking intensive and we had a pretty good tour guide,” he mentioned. “It was a good, solid look at Málaga.”

Most cruisers assume transatlantic cruises will have an older passenger demographic onboard with few kids and families. Josh mentioned how this was not the case on his Symphony of the Seas cruise.

“There were kids onboard, more than was expected for sure,” he said. “I believe the estimate was about 500 kids onboard.”

Because Symphony of the Seas caters heavily to families, it’s understandable that there were many kids onboard. With a zip line, ice skating rink, rock climbing, and surfing simulator, there are plenty of ways to keep kids entertained with so many days at sea.

Josh noted that there was a pretty even mix of retirees and families, and that all age groups were represented onboard. The ship had a mix of both Americans and Europeans, and there were many solo passengers onboard as well.

Most cruisers have never booked a transatlantic sailing before. We asked Josh what the major differences are between a 7-night cruise and a transatlantic cruise.

The first difference Josh mentioned is that you have more time onboard.

“You don’t feel rushed to do everything and see everything,” he explained. “You have time to fully experience the ship and all it has to offer.”

The second difference was perhaps the most notable difference. With much more time onboard, a transatlantic cruise gives you the chance to get to know your fellow passengers and crew members better than on a short sailing.

“You just have more time to develop those relationships. There’s more time to talk and get to know one another, more time to get to know the bartenders and stateroom attendants. The more we got to know each other, the better the service got. And you meet and make more friends just because you have time to get to know them more!”

Josh’s third difference was that there are more sea days to relax and recharge. Most 7-night cruises only have two or three sea days, so having ten sea days on a 12-night cruise leads to much more time spent onboard. Of course, while this may work for some passengers, others may prefer a more port-intensive itinerary.

With so much time at sea, though, you have the ability to completely relax without worrying about getting off the ship and planning days in port. By the time the cruise is over, you can expect to feel completely recharged.

Finally, we asked Josh whether or not he would recommend a transatlantic cruise to others, and if he could share any advice for those planning a repositioning cruise.

Josh said he would absolutely recommend a transatlantic cruise, but that he prefers a westbound itinerary (Europe to the US) over an eastbound sailing (the US to Europe). The reason he prefers this is because if you fly to Europe and spend a few long, busy days sightseeing, you can relax off the exhaustion on the cruise back to Florida.

“I think flying [to Europe] a few days early to explore and experience Europe—and then cruise home—is a more pleasant experience,” he mentioned.

Josh’s biggest piece of advice for those planning a transatlantic cruise is to not try to cram activities into every day. He advises spreading out your activities and relaxing to ensure you don’t get burned out on such a long itinerary.

Have you ever booked a transatlantic or transpacific cruise with Royal Caribbean? If so, how was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!

Happy weekend! I hope Spring is starting to arrive where you live.  Regardless of the weather, it is time to sit back, relax, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean news!

New details about Royal Caribbean's new beach club in The Bahamas were revealed exclusively to RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com.

The Royal Beach Club in Nassau will be an all-inclusive experience, which will have a limited capacity.

It will also be a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the people of the Bahamas to ensure they can profit from the revenues.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean confirms investigating a potential new private island in The Bahamas
• Royal Caribbean updates passenger cruise contract: Covid policies, legal jurisdiction and more
• Royal Caribbean CEO: Nassau ranks in bottom 10% of customer satisfaction
• Royal Caribbean adds new shorter World Cruise segments to book
• What's different on Mariner of the Seas since her dry dock
• 75 travel tips to make you the world's most savvy cruiser
• The crew member only beach at Labadee and it's where no passengers can go
• Deal alert: Alaska cruises starting at $269

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 495th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with tips on how to have a stress-free cruise.

Matt shares six ways he recently employed a strategy to reduce stress on his cruise.

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

New RCB Video: We tried EVERY cabin on our Royal Caribbean cruise!

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Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — We tried EVERY cabin on our Royal Caribbean cruise! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean will add new immersive dining experience to Utopia of the Seas

When Utopia of the Seas launches next year, she'll have a new restaurant never before offered on Royal Caribbean.

There's no name announced for it yet, but it's being described as "an immersive train dining experience."

The restaurant will rely on mixed reality, which means it will have a blend of physical and digital worlds.

21 of the Best Main Dining Room Tips

We love the Main Dining Room, but there are a few tried-and-true tips you should follow to have the best experience possible.

We recommend knowing the ins and outs of the Main Dining Room before your cruise begins to avoid surprises once you get onboard.

These secrets should ensure you have a great meal, every time!

All about Royal Caribbean onboard credit

Royal Caribbean onboard credit is something nearly every cruise ship passenger gets, but how do you use it and what are other ways to get it?

This form of "free cash" often given as an incentive to book a cruise can be very helpful, so we wanted to share the best ways to use your Royal Caribbean onboard credit.

From spending it on gratuities to doubling up your onboard credit, there's plenty of ways to maximize it all!

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas finished a multiweek dry dock earlier this month, but what exactly has changed?

Every five years or so, cruise ships are temporarily taken out of service so that they can go in for maintenance work.

Unlike a Royal Amplification, Royal Caribbean doesn't discuss the details of a dry dock, which leaves many cruisers wondering what's new or different about the ship once it returns to service.

I boarded Mariner of the Seas today and walked around the ship to see what noticeable changes are present for anyone else sailing on her.

Dry dock vs Amplification

Depending on the cruise line's plan, a Royal Caribbean cruise ship could get a number of enhancements and changes. Or, it could simply go in for maintenance without real changes the average guest would notice.

There are two terms for these kind of services: refurbishment and amplification.

A refurbishment is when a ship is taken to dry dock for a shorter period of time to do primarily cosmetic changes and maintenance work.

During an amplification, the same cosmetic and maintenance work is done, but there are also enhancements made to the ship, such as adding new restaurants, activities, bars and more.

When Mariner of the Seas went in for dry dock in 2018, she had a $120 million Amplification, but this time around in 2023, it was a dry dock.

Mariner of the Seas updates and changes

I walked around Mariner of the Seas to see what's new, different, or generally noticeable.

First and foremost, the outside of the ship has a new paint job.

During a dry dock, the ship is taken out of the water so that not only can its engines, propellors, and other systems be attended to, but the hull can be repainted.  All that sea water and humid air from the ocean takes a toll on the aesthetics of the ship.

Speaking of the hull, Royal Caribbean also took the opportunity to fix a hole in the aft of the ship that occurred when a cargo vessel drifted into Mariner while in Freeport, Bahamas.

In April 2022, a cargo vessel made contact with the ship while Mariner of the Seas was docked in Freeport.

A small, superficial gash was left near the jogging track on the back of the ship and it was temporarily covered up with some steel. 

During the dry dock, this is now completely fixed.

Another change Royal Caribbean made to Mariner of the Seas (and every other ship that has a SkyPad) was to remove the trampolines and supporting equipment for the SkyPad.

Last month, Royal Caribbean announced it was getting rid of the SkyPad on all of its ships.

The SkyPad structure is still there, but the area is now being used for various complimentary activities such as bean bag toss and dance classes.

The SkyPad was also re-painted.

Both pool decks on 11 and 12 were re-surfaced.

Not directly related to the refurbishment, but the pool chairs have signs on them about not reserving them all day.

We've seen this on other cruise ships in the fleet as an attempt to prevent the chair hog problem, which has been an issue for many years.

The door on deck 13 to the sports deck was replaced. It used to be a heavy door with a handle and is now a sliding automatic door.

The water slides were re-painted.

The ending area where you splash in when the ride is also remodeled.

Speaking of aquatic fun, the FlowRider received a new pump.

Underneath the ship is where most of the maintenance occurred, with the ship's azipods, engines and other critical systems serviced.

One incredibly small change was the aft stairwell had their wallpaper replaced.

There were no changes to the cabins, and also no carpeting was replaced on the ship.

Since dry dock, Mariner of the Seas has been experimenting with a complimentary lunch open to all guests in the main dining room on deck 3.

The goal is to alleviate pressure on the Windjammer buffet, but from what I've heard from crew members, it's still a test and not a fleetwide policy.