Royal Caribbean Blog

It's not your imagination, cruise prices are on the increase so now may be the best time to lock in the best price.

January is the start of Wave season, and Royal Caribbean is seeing such strong demand that prices aren't dipping much at all.

Wave season is an industry term for the time of year when cruise lines tend to offer their best promotion. It traditionally takes place between January and March.

A lot of people typically book cruises in the early months of year as a result of wanting to plan their vacations for later, as well as being influenced by cold temperatures now that compel them to think of a tropical cruise vacation.

Like other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean has rolled out new offers since the start of the month, and so many people are booking cruises, that price trends are moving up.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Vicki Freed, told travel agents on Wednesday during a webinar that demand is so strong for new bookings during Wave season that they're seeing higher prices.

"In the past, when the cruise industry has had a strong wave like we're experiencing now... pricing goes up and we don't see all that dilution in current pricing and we're not seeing that now."

"If anything, we're seeing pricing going up."

This pricing trend reinforces an important cruise planning tip: book early to get the lowest price.

"It allows your client to feel confident that the purchase that they make in the beginning of the year is a better value than if they wait till the end," Ms. Freed added when talking about the prices when booking a cruise early.

More record breaking sales for Royal Caribbean

To echo the point how strong Wave season has been so far, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley shared an anecdote during the webinar how well things have been since the start of the year.

"We have been having record booking day after record booking day," Mr. Bayley said when talking about Wave season so far.

"Last week was the biggest booking week in the history of our business. It was absolutely unbelievable and it just seems to be getting better and better."

He also said this bodes well for the rest of the year, but Mr. Bayley feels strongly about how good things will be for Royal Caribbean this year.

"I've got to tell you, I'm turning pretty positive about the year. Obviously, it's just the beginning of the year."

Why booking a cruise as early as possible matters

Royal Caribbean's cruise fare pricing is based on supply, and the quicker cabins sell on a particular sailing, generally the higher prices go.

The key to getting the best price is to book your cruise as soon as you know you want to go on the sailing and lock in the cabin you prefer.

In addition to the lower prices, booking well in-advance of a cruise assures you of the ship and stateroom you want to reserve. 

Suites and some of the higher in-demand cabins are the first to be reserved, and waiting to book usually results in far fewer choices. 

Cruise fares tend to be cheapest the further in advance you book, and despite a few last-minute deals here and there, it’s best to book in advance and lock-in the best price.

Read more: Pros and Cons of booking a cruise early vs last-minute

Royal Caribbean's Wave season 2023 offer

If you're curious, Royal Caribbean is offering a number of discounts on cruises when booked in January.

The current promotion offers 30% off every guest and Kids Sail Free deals when booking a cruise between January 3 to January 31, 2023. 

The deals are good for cruises departing in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and some blackout dates apply. 

Throughout January, the line will also run unannounced flash sales that include offers like $550 instant savings and discounts on beverage and dining packages, shore excursions, internet and more.

More demand for cruises

It's not just Royal Caribbean, because survey data points to a lot of people looking to cruise.

According to a AAA survey, 52% of adults in the United States this year are likely to consider a cruise vacation. That's up from 45% a year ago.

AAA sees the demand jumping because a lot more people are comfortable to travel in 2023 compared to the last couple of years.

Recently, Royal Caribbean soft launched their new Hyperlink Program onboard select vessels, and after reading some mixed reviews, I decided to see what the activities were all about while sailing on Symphony of the Seas.

Hyperlink targets guests between the ages of 18-25 and aims to bridge the gap between the Fuel teen club, which is limited to guests 12-17, and other more common adult activities where drinking is more present.

Since I'm only 23, I'm within the age range for this program, so I attended at least one Hyperlink activity everyday while on my cruise to see what I thought. 

I wanted to check out the activities and share with all of you my opinions on how well it all worked.

First impressions

On the very first night, there were two Hyperlink activities: a social gathering near the Solarium Bar, followed by a private table event at the Attic. 

Since I was on my first solo cruise, I was looking forward to the opportunity to get to know other guests around my age. 

When I arrived, the Hyperlink "promoter," who was dressed up in a suit and tie, greeted me and shook my hand. A small speaker playing some of today's hits provided good background noise, and everyone entered a raffle where names would be pulled at the very last event to win "a free cruise or keychain, but probably a keychain." 

There were about ten other attendees present already, so everyone restated their names and where they were from. This kept occurring throughout the event whenever other people would arrive. 

I did notice, however, that while we all said our ages when introducing ourselves, they were never checked by the promoter. In theory, someone who looks like they are between the ages of 18 and 25 could have shown up without question. 

Most of the guests at the social event were under 21, and those who were over the age of 21 arrived drink in hand and did not stay for long, especially those who were looking forward to continuing the gathering in the Attic. 

I ended up meeting a nice guy from Colorado who became my buddy for the week. In fact, we've been in contact since the cruise already! 

A large group of attendees stayed in the Solarium rather than heading down to the club event, myself included. It was nice to get to know everyone instead of heading to a venue where conversation would be minimal. 

Other events offered

Throughout the week, there was at least one Hyperlink event per day, all happening after 10:30pm.

Trivia

The second night's activity was international beer trivia in On Air. It was supposed to begin at 11:30pm; however, it didn't start until closer to 11:45, and the same promoter was the host of the event. 

The room was packed, but once again, no ages were checked. The parents of the friend I made the night prior even stopped in for a little bit.

Additionally, everyone came in groups. If you showed up solo, I think it would've been hard to find a team to play with. There wasn't any real time to talk with others. 

I really didn't find this theme suitable for guests 18-20. Even though I am 23, I am not a beer drinker. In fact, I avoid it at all costs. 

Personally, I think it should have been something more universal, like music or movie trivia. 

In total, the event lasted twenty minutes, as it ended at 12:05am. I'm surprised at how well my new friend and I did; we got eight out of twelve correct, albeit many (if not most) were just great guesses. 

"Frat" games

The next night's event took place in the alcoves located in the forward of the ship off of the running track on deck five. 

I believe that both cup pong and flip cup were supposed to be played, but because of how popular the event was, there was barely enough time to let everyone play cup pong. 

The same friend and I made accompanied me to all the Hyperlink events the rest of the week, which made them more enjoyable, as there weren't any more "get to know each other" opportunities; everyone arrived in pairs or groups. 

At this point, I noticed a recurring theme: ages were not going to be checked. The promoter assigned teams without so much as asking a single person their age. 

The energy at this event was high: loud music was playing; people were screaming and yelling; and you could tell some had a few drinks prior to coming. 

Thus far, the events seemed to be more targeted towards passengers ages 21-25, rather than 18-25, as I felt like this event was not appropriate for the ship to be promoting for those under 21. 

Karaoke 

It was on this cruise I discovered how much I enjoy watching people sing karaoke. Prior to this trip, I usually skipped the karaoke events, as they were often very crowded, and it was difficult to find seating if you didn't arrive ahead of time. 

I was looking forward to the Hyperlink karaoke night because I figured it would be a smaller, more "exclusive" event! 

It turns out that they merged it with "adult" karaoke; however, ages were not checked at all. It was truly just another karaoke night with the only difference being that the same Hyperlink promoter was the host. 

Hyperlink was never even mentioned, and before every song, the promoter would say this was "for you, for me, [and] for everybody!" 

That being said, I really enjoyed myself! The promoter's energy carried the event, as it was evident that he was enjoying himself.

He was often seen dancing off to the side, and at one point, he even ran across the stage throwing tissues! It was quite entertaining. 

'70s club night

Just like the previous night, the event at Studio B's "RED" nightclub was merged with the overarching event. Technically, though, it was just a "meet up" that was scheduled to last thirty minutes. This time,  I never even saw the promoter. If he was there, he was buried in the sea of people on the dance floor. 

About fifteen minutes before it began, there was already a decent sized line. And because this was in a nightclub, all SeaPasses were scanned, so everyone was over 18.

It was nearly impossible to find anyone else who had been to other Hyperlink activities because of how crowded it was. 

Right at the beginning of the dance floor was a bar, and nearly every attendee visited it or carried in another drink. 

Game night

Game night had so much potential! It was slated to be held in the Card Room on deck 14, but when I arrived there were only a few people there; the promoter was nowhere to be found. 

A good age range showed up, too; two 23-year-olds, two 19-year-olds, and one 18-year-old, including myself and friend, were there and ready to play some card games. 

This event would have thrived with some enforcement, like setting up multiple game stations that were ready when people arrived. 

In reality, most people left within ten or fifteen minutes. 

Farewell event

The last activity was another meet up with a DJ, but this one was located in Dazzles.

The overall age of attendees was younger than the RED nightclub event, but that's probably because it was 12:00am, and everyone had to be off the ship in roughly nine hours. 

It was similar to the last clubbing experience, down to the fact that there was no promoter to be found, even though there was supposedly a raffle. 

Now, this could have actually happened, but since it was the last night and I had an early morning, I did not stay longer than fifteen minutes. 

Final thoughts on Hyperlink

The Hyperlink Program is a great idea, but it is lacking in execution.  

None of these activities truly seemed to bridge the gap for those who were between 18 and 20. Rather, they just encouraged drinking behavior (i.e., beer trivia, cup pong, nightclub events). 

Plus, I think that if events are going to be targeted towards a specific age group, there needs to be some method verification, and there should be staff present at every Hyperlink advertised activity. 

Perhaps, even, Royal Caribbean should focus solely on those 18 to 20, as anyone over 21 can partake in all events throughout the cruise ship and most likely are using the time to drink.

Not that I am a sports girl, but I know that exclusive sporting events would've been widely popular, but they were not offered on my sailing. 

All events that were offered were late at night, and sports could be a way to provide entertainment during the day as well-- I found myself struggling to stay awake every single night and would have loved a few events during the day. 

I think, too, that they should have more opportunities for social interaction and meeting new people throughout the week.

Like I said earlier, I am a huge fan of the idea of Hyperlink; I just hope that Royal Caribbean uses feedback from guests to continue improving it! 

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships are extremely popular, and many people only book cruises on the Oasis Class. With an open-air park, kid-friendly Boardwalk, thrilling activities, and world-class entertainment, it’s no secret that Oasis Class ships are something special, but what about Royal Caribbean’s other cruise ships?

If you’ve only cruised on Oasis Class cruise ships before, it’s understandable that you’d choose to book only Oasis Class ships for future cruises. Many people are worried that, after they’ve experienced the “best of the best” by Royal Caribbean, a cruise on a different type of ship would not feel as special.

Yet with six (soon to be seven) classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there is a whole world of cruising to discover outside of the Oasis Class. From the technology-focused, modern Quantum Class ships to the recently refurbished Freedom Class ships, it’s worth giving other Royal Caribbean ships a try.

Here are a few things you should know if you’ve only sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships and want to try something new.

Will I be disappointed if I try a different ship?

Probably the most common question we get from new cruisers that have only sailed on Oasis Class ships is will trying a different kind of Royal Caribbean ship be disappointing.

The short answer is, no, but it will be different.

Oasis Class ships offer so much to see and do, and while other ships may not have the sheer variety of things to do, they still offer a great cruise experience.

The Freedom and Voyager Class ships share a lineage with the Oasis Class, meaning there's a lot of similarities among them that will make you "feel at home" on them too. This includes a Royal Promenade, pool deck activities, theater, and dining room.

Going back to the question of being disappointed, the issue is understanding what the other Royal Caribbean ships have and don't have to ensure it matches up to what you want on a ship.

Someone going from an Oasis Class ship to a Radiance Class, but wanting a cruise ship that has water slides or a full Broadway show would indeed be disappointed. But if those features don't matter as much as the core Royal Caribbean experience, coupled with a different itinerary, may find the sailing fantastic.

As you'll see in this article, there are differences, but as long as you understand what's different and are okay with them, you can have a really great cruise experience on other ships too.

No Central Park

Central Park is a highlight of any cruise on an Oasis Class ship. The open-air neighborhood filled with trees, bushes, and flowers is unlike anything you’ll find on another cruise ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

Related: Why Central Park is my favorite spot onboard

If you enjoyed spending time in the park–whether dining outdoors or listening to live music–it’s important to realize there’s nothing quite like Central Park on other ships.

Nonetheless, you’ll still find nice places to hang out on other Royal Caribbean ships. Most passengers on Quantum Class ships rave about Two70, a large indoor entertainment space featuring 270 degree views of the ocean from floor-to-ceiling windows.

Those on Vision, Radiance, Voyager, and Freedom Class ships, on the other hand, love the panoramic views from the Viking Crown Lounge.

Oasis Class aren’t the only mega ships by Royal Caribbean

If you were initially attracted to Oasis Class cruise ships due to their size, you’ll be happy to hear that Royal Caribbean has many other large ships in the fleet.

Quantum Class cruise ships are the second biggest type of Royal Caribbean ship. They have a capacity of nearly 5,000 passengers and weigh 168,000 tons! Onboard these ships you’ll find activities not available on Oasis Class ships, such as bumper cars and indoor skydiving.

Related: I’ve been on every class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships: here’s what I like about each

Freedom Class vessels are also quite large, with a capacity of around 4,500 passengers.

Even Voyager Class ships, while smaller for Royal Caribbean, are still large cruise ships with a capacity of 4,000 passengers. Radiance and Vision Class ships, the smallest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, can still hold around 2,500 passengers.

Just because you sail on a non-Oasis Class ship doesn’t mean you’ll be sailing on a tiny, 200-person vessel.

Read more about Royal Caribbean’s ship classes:

• All about Quantum Class ships
• All about Freedom Class ships
• All about Voyager Class ships
• All about Radiance Class ships
• All about Vision Class ships

There is still a lot to do on all Royal Caribbean ships

It’s understandable that Oasis Class cruise ships are featured in most Royal Caribbean online advertisements and television commercials; they offer the most “I can’t believe they put that on a cruise ship” activities like zip lining, a carousel, and AquaTheater shows.

However, all Royal Caribbean cruise ships offer countless ways to have fun. You’ll find virtual reality zones, waterslides, escape rooms, sports courts, bungee trampolines, indoor skydiving, mini golf, and rock climbing on other ships in the fleet, and the majority of activities are included in your cruise fare.

Related: 15 free things to try on your next cruise

Outside of these activities are game shows, trivia, karaoke, production shows, nightclubs, live musicians, and more, so there’s no need to worry about being bored on any Royal Caribbean ship.

(Probably) no Broadway show

If you enjoyed watching a full-length Broadway show on an Oasis Class ship, you should know that Broadway shows aren’t as common on other Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

In fact, you’ll only find Broadway shows on 3 non-Oasis Class ships:

• Liberty of the Seas: Saturday Night Fever
• Independence of the Seas: Grease
• Anthem of the Seas: We Will Rock You

An absence of Broadway shows doesn’t mean there isn’t still high-quality entertainment on Royal Caribbean’s other ships, though, and you’ll still find signature production shows across the fleet.

Voyager and Freedom Class ships, like Oasis Class ships, have an ice-skating rink with performances throughout the cruise, and all Royal Caribbean ships have a theater. If you’re sailing on a Quantum Class ship, be sure to check out shows at Two70, a modern venue blending live performances with technology.

Related: Royal Caribbean's 7 ship classes ultimate guide

Look for amplified ships

If you’ve only cruised on Oasis Class ships before, you’ve become accustomed to Royal Caribbean’s latest entertainment, dining venues, activities, and amenities.

Although all Royal Caribbean ships provide an excellent cruise experience, sailing on the fleet’s oldest and smallest ships after an Oasis Class cruise ship can be an adjustment. You may find that some aspects of the ship feel outdated, there are fewer activities available, and dining choices are not nearly as wide as on a new ship.

Therefore, you may want to consider sailing on one of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships or an amplified Voyager or Freedom Class ship. Amplified ships are older cruise ships that have undergone a significant refurbishment to modernize the ship with new venues, amenities, and activities.

Here’s a list of ships to consider when you want to branch out from only sailing on the Oasis Class:

• Odyssey of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas

Fewer dining options

Oasis Class ships have a wide selection of complimentary and specialty dining options. You can find food almost everywhere on the ship, and it’s diverse. From sandwiches at Park Cafe to burritos at El Loco Fresh, you’ll never go hungry on an Oasis Class ship.

And while you’ll never go hungry on any Royal Caribbean ship, you may find fewer dining choices on older ships. This is highly dependent on the ship, as amplified Voyager Class and Freedom Class ships as well as all Quantum Class ships have plenty of dining choices to choose from.

More itinerary options

One plus of cruising on a non-Oasis Class ship after only having cruised on the Oasis Class is having a wider range of itinerary options.

Due to their size, Oasis Class ships are limited to a smaller selection of ports compared to other Royal Caribbean vessels. Only cruising on Oasis Class ships means visiting ports like Cozumel, Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Maarten, and Labadee over and over again.

Related: Ultimate Mexico Cruise Guide

And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with these cruise ports, it can get repetitive cruising to the same locations several times.

Other Royal Caribbean ships visit ports around the world, from Australia to Alaska, northern Europe, the Mexican Riviera, Southeast Asia, and more. You might be surprised to find cruises to countries and cities that you’ve always wanted to visit for a reasonable price on non-Oasis Class ships.

Related: 15 countries you didn’t know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean

You might like other ships even more than the Oasis Class

Many cruisers regard Oasis Class cruise ships as the best Royal Caribbean has to offer. In reality, however, the “best” cruise ship for one person is not best for another.

Some cruisers love the size and amenities of an Oasis Class ship, whereas others find themselves preferring smaller, more relaxed Royal Caribbean ships.

You never know what you’ll like until you try it, and even if you loved cruising on the Oasis Class, you might be surprised how much you enjoy sailing on other ships.

The suite experience can be different

Oasis Class ships feature the Royal Suite Class, a tiered program of suite experiences for passengers in Junior Suites and above.

The Royal Suite Class enhances the traditional suite experience on Royal Caribbean, with the top tier (Star Class) providing unparalleled benefits including a personalized Royal Genie (magic maker) to curate the perfect cruise for you once onboard.

Related: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

The Royal Suite Class is also available on Quantum Class cruise ships, but if you’re staying in a suite on other Royal Caribbean ships, you’ll experience a more traditional suite experience.

The suite experience on older ships is still fantastic, and it has many of the same benefits of suites on Oasis Class ships such as concierge service, Suite Lounge access, in-suite dining, etc. However, if you want the ultimate luxury experience on Royal Caribbean, you’ll find it in a Star Class suite on Oasis and Quantum Class ships only.

You’ll probably save money

Oasis Class ships are high in demand. Unsurprisingly, they come with a higher price tag than most other Royal Caribbean ships.

Sailing on a ship outside of the Oasis Class can offer a fantastic value in a cruise vacation, especially if you book a cruise ship over five years old. It’s not uncommon to find cruises on a Vision, Radiance, or Voyager Class ship for half the price of an Oasis Class ship, even if they’re sailing the same itinerary.

The caveat? Vision and Radiance Class ships have far fewer balconies available compared to the Oasis Class, meaning balcony prices on these ships can be priced similarly to an Oasis Class ship. Be sure to compare prices between cabin categories thoroughly before booking to ensure you’re getting a great deal.

More cruise tips & tricks:

• Pros and Cons of sailing on an older Royal Caribbean cruise ship
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• 8 questions to ask yourself before picking a cruise ship

I recently went on my first solo cruise during a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing on the Symphony of the Seas, and it was nothing like I expected it to be.

When you embark a cruise ship, you’ll see families in matching t-shirts, eager to kickstart their vacation and spend time together.

Parents will drag their children to Adventure Ocean to get them properly registered before setting sail, while the teens might be nose first into their phones trying to soak in the last bit of cell service.

For older groups of adults, you might find them hopping from bar to bar to figure out which bartender is their favorite as early on as possible.

Cruises are a great vacation for small and large families alike because there’s something for everyone.

Before my first solo cruise, the extent of my independent travel was limited to airports and planes. I was nervous, excited, and everything in between!

Here are five things that surprised me about going on my first solo cruise.

I enjoyed having a stateroom to myself

Initially, I was nervous to be in an interior cabin alone for one week. Prior to this sailing, I had only ever stayed in balcony cabins, and even then I often slept in and nearly missed breakfast.

However, I found coming back to my own stateroom each evening after being around masses of people to be relaxing.

I never had to ask anyone if they wanted to shower first or share closet space; there was no bumping into or bickering with family members while trying to rush to get ready for dinner.

Having an interior cabin to myself made it feel larger, too. I was able to keep everything pretty neat throughout the week, so it never felt cluttered. While I would’ve enjoyed a balcony, I think it would have almost felt like too much space for one person.

Plus, it forced me to get out and mingle on the top deck, rather than stay secluded on my own private terrace.

I will say that I did keep the television channel with the cruise map on all week, and I think having constant music playing in the background helped the room feel more cozy and less lonely!

I prefer exploring ports on my own, rather than going on cruise line sponsored shore excursions

This one truly surprised me, as I made it a plan to only go off with the cruise line due to safety concerns. I don’t have an international cellular plan, so I didn’t want to be wandering in a relatively unfamiliar place without the ability to contact anyone.

I bought a ticket through Royal Caribbean for the Pelican Peak Zip Line in St. Maarten. I had been zip lining in Jamaica before, and all parties were laughing and cheering on each other by the end of the excursion. I had similar hopes and expectations for this tour. 

My group consisted of one family of four, one couple, a brother and sister duo, and another solo guest. Everyone kept to themselves during the ride to Pelican Peak, and the guide was speaking so much that there weren’t any opportunities for participants to mingle.

At the end of the 1,500 foot zip line, all parties dispersed. I thought people would talk about their experiences while waiting for the shuttle back to the cruse terminal, but I found that I was the only person who waited. And after about thirty minutes of waiting, I opted to walk the fifteen minutes back on my own. 

While docked in St. Thomas, I went off on my own to explore Water Island, a quiet and secluded island off the coast that's the smallest of the four U.S. Virgin Islands.

The plan I thought I had went to shambles pretty quickly, but I enjoyed my day talking with locals and other visitors. It made for a more unique experience, and I know that if I ever return, it won’t be quite the same!

It was easy to strike up conversations with other guests

On my first afternoon onboard, I grabbed a strawberry blonde to take back to my stateroom to work on an article about the first look at Royal Caribbean’s new main dining room menus.

In the elevator on the way there, I was asked about the drink by another couple, and we had a full-blown conversation about our favorite cruise drinks before I got off.

That same evening, I went to the first Hyperlink event of the cruise (the Hyperlink program is for guests between the ages of 18 and 25 and aims to bridge cruise ship activities following the teen club to more common adult offerings).

While I was there, I found everyone to be more social and welcoming than I anticipated, and I met two individuals whose family “adopted” me for the week, allowing me to join them at dinner and other activities, including Perfect Day at CocoCay’s Thrill Waterpark.

It was so great to have a buddy that was willing to tag along to the Hyperlink events with me throughout the rest of the week, especially since a few of them were after 11:00pm. 

Seeing how willing people were to jump into conversations at the Hyperlink event made conversing with others a breeze, like when I met a nice couple in Water Island who offered to give me a ride on their golf cart, and I didn’t feel as lonely as I thought I would the rest of the trip.

Dining alone in the Main Dining Room can be a little awkward

When I first moved to New York City, I had immense anxiety about eating alone. Now, I do it at least once per week, albeit in a more fast casual way. Regardless, I had reason to believe that I would have similar experiences solo dining onboard a cruise ship.

In reality, I found it to be much more uncomfortable than I expected, and I felt the loneliest on this trip when I did eat alone.

On the first night, I was tucked into a dark corner seated at a table for two on deck three, and my wait staff was confused at the concept of me sailing alone. I was checked up on at least three or four times asking if anyone was going to be joining me.

Even if I saw other guests hanging out alone during the day, dinner brought travel parties back together.

I’m grateful for the family who let me dine with them each night, as it made my solo cruising experience much more enjoyable!

I’m looking forward to my next solo cruise where I can skip the Main Dining Room, eat in the Windjammer, or dine with others at Izumi’s Teppanyaki!

I didn’t have to prioritize what I wanted to see and do

Since my first solo cruise was also my first work trip, I had to manage experiencing what the ship had to offer, as well as getting all of my assignments done.

That being said, balancing work with cruising felt like a family trip, minus the family.

On those kinds of trips, there’s rarely enough time for everyone to get to do everything that they want to do, so there have to be some compromises made.

The same concept applied to my solo trip, but I got to pick exactly what I wanted to do in my free time, whether that was lounging in the Solarium during the day or watching a show at night.

I didn’t get to zip line, try out the FlowRider, or ride down the Ultimate Abyss, but those are all activities I have done in the past; I was more focused on using my leisure time to relax and enjoy some entertainment!

Overall thoughts on solo cruising

While I enjoyed my trip and am thankful for the new friendships I made, cruising is a whole lot more fun when you're sharing the experience when your loved ones! I often felt myself reminiscing on trips I've taken with my dad and sister and wishing that they were with me. 

In the future, I won't immediately cross a solo cruise off the list, especially now that I know what to expect. To me, a solo cruise equates more with work than for leisure! 

Last week, I had the opportunity to try Royal Caribbean's new Main Dining Room menus. 

In late 2022, the company began testing new menus, and after receiving positive feedback from guests, they announced that they were going to permanently change the menus on all ships within the fleet by February 2023. 

According to Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International’s President and CEO, guests often complained about the length of their dinner meal, so one of the primary reasons for the change was the swiftness of service. 

One noticeable change is the creation of a more cohesive theme each night that highlights different cuisines and cooking styles. With that, the “classics” section, which offered a subset of menu options that never changed and were available each night, was removed. 

I went onboard the Symphony of the Seas, one of the first ships in the fleet to receive the new menus, to see how the new menus compared to my previous dining experiences onboard Royal Caribbean ships, and here’s what I thought. 

Read more: Here are the new main dining room menus

Timing of the dinner service

One of the reasons for this change is to decrease the time guests spend in the Main Dining Room. A shorter meal service allows passengers to enjoy other activities during their cruise vacation, both before and after dinner. 

Royal Caribbean believes that dinner should last around 75 minutes, or an hour and fifteen minutes. Prior to the new menus, passengers could spend 95-120+ minutes at dinner. 

I timed each of the seven nights I spent in the Main Dining Room, from when I received my menu to when dessert was set in front of me, to see how true this statement was and found that the average was just a little over 75 minutes. 

Day 1: "Welcome Aboard"

(Southern Fried Chicken served on January 7, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

The first night, I dined solo during the 8:00pm dinner seating on deck three and received my menu at 8:01pm. The theme was "Welcome Aboard," and the highlighted cuisine was American.

My appetizer arrived at 8:27pm, followed by the entree at 8:48pm, and finally dessert at 9:14pm. In total, my dinner experience lasted one hour and thirteen minutes, which was fantastic because I was ready for bed by this point! 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 13 mins.

Day 2: French night

(Roasted Beef Tenderloin served on January 8, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

From the second night on, I was seated at 5:30pm on deck five with a family of five; this minimally impacted the total dining time. 

On my sailing, French night aligned with formal night!

The dinner service took over 75 minutes, as my party secured menus at 5:48pm and received dessert at 7:12pm. The total time spent in the Main Dining Room waiting on food was one hour and twenty-four minutes. 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 24 mins.

Day 3: Italian night

(Lasagna al Forno served on January 9, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

On Day 3, my dining party shrunk from six to four, as two had reservations at Chops Grille.

The speed of the service felt almost unbelievable; all three courses were served within one hour and eight minutes! We got our menus at 5:26pm, appetizers at 5:44pm, entrees at 5:58pm, and desserts at 6:34pm.   

Everyone got a chuckle about how the dinner theme was Italian, while the evening's theme was White Night. 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 8 mins.

Day 4: Caribbean night

(Jerk Seasoned Pork Chop served on January 10, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

The table was full with six people again on Caribbean night. This was the first night where I could truly tell they had revamped their menus, as the only entree I recognized was the New York Strip Steak. Compared to the three pervious nights, the Main Dining Room was also relatively empty.

Tonight's dinner took exactly one hour and twenty-five minutes from receiving the menus to being presented with dessert. We were seated with menus at 5:39pm, and our desserts arrived at 7:03pm.

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 25 mins. 

Night 5: Mexican night

(Pulled Pork Enchilada served on January 11, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

By this point, it seemed like 95 minutes was the staff's goal, as this was the third night on the sailing where we finished our dinner around the same time.

My dining party received menus at 5:30pm and dessert at 6:54pm, for a total of one hour and twenty-four minutes waiting on food. 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 24 mins.

Night 6: The Royal Night

(Broiled lobster tail served on January 12, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

Naturally, the Main Dining Room was the most crowded on "dress your best" night when lobster was listed as a complimentary menu option. 

Four out of six people ordered it as one of their entrees, and they all looked to be roughly 1.00 to 1.25 pounds each. However, since additional lobster tails now cost $16.99 each, nobody ordered a second to see how it compared to the complimentary tail. 

Nearly everyone ordered two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts, so I expected dinner to take longer than other nights; we were served in one hour and thirty-nine minutes. 

Total dinner time: 1 hour and 39 mins.

Day 7: Mediterranean night

(Vegetable moussaka served on January 12, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

On the last night, I dined solo again and was in and out in just thirty-eight minutes. However, out of all seven nights, I have to say that Mediterranean dinner was my least favorite.

Total dinner time: 38 mins.

Average dinner time for the week: a little over 75 mins.

Reformatting the chef's recommendations

I was able to secure paper copies of the menus for the rest of the week on the second morning of the cruise, but the formatting was soon changed.

At first, the menu items listed at the top as the "chef's recommendation" were not included again under each of the different courses. If your eyes glazed over this portion of the menu, it would be easy to miss an additional appetizer, entree, and dessert option! 

By the third night, the menus presented at dinner were different from those I was given just one day prior, as the recommended items were now repeated.

I appreciated this change, as placing all available options in one place is more convenient for the reader, who is most likely hungry and trying to quickly figure out what they want to eat. 

Price of additional lobster tails

In the past, guests always looked forward to the night when lobster was listed as a complimentary menu option. 

While it was on the menu every night for a surcharge, there was only one night per sailing where guests could indulge in as many lobster tails as they desired. 

With the new menus, Royal Caribbean is limiting guests to just one broiled lobster tail for no additional cost on the evening it's available. If passengers want another, they will be charged $16.99. 

Cutbacks have been seen across many industries throughout the past year, but the realities of the current lobster trade also forced Royal Caribbean's hand in part, as they can only buy 90% Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified food, which means that lobster needs to be either farm raised or wild caught.

Due to environmental concerns, there's been a recent shift in Maine lobster purchasing; vendors, such as Whole Foods, have halted purchasing the lobsters.

Therefore, Royal Caribbean has begun buying MSC certified Canadian lobster instead. 

Kids' menu

There are five main entrees on the kids' menu that are offered nightly and do not change throughout the week: a hamburger, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, spaghetti marinara, and mac & cheese. 

Additionally, they may choose between a fruit salad, veggie sticks, and french fries as a side, as well as three different flavors of ice cream and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. 

Special requests

(Sugar-free blueberry cobbler served on January 10, 2023 onboard the Symphony of the Seas)

Traditionally, Royal Caribbean has been great at accommodating specific food allergies and dietary requirements. 

On the new menus, the vegan dishes are indicated via a small leaf icon, and there's at least one vegan dish for each course, including vegan spaghetti bolognese and stuffed grilled eggplant. On my Symphony of the Seas sailing, however, there was not separate menu that was provided upon request. 

For those watching their sugar intake, they also offer at least one sugar-free dessert each evening, such as a crumbly oat and berry bar or a warm blueberry cobbler. 

Per Royal Caribbean's website, you may also send email requests to [email protected] at least 45 days prior to sailing (90 days for European/South American/Asian itineraries). Be sure to include the guests' names, booking number, ship name, and sail date. 

Top three menu items I ate in the Main Dining Room

I ate a lot of delicious food this past week, but a few courses stood out over the others, namely the appetizers and desserts.

#1: Warm chocolate chip cookie

The best thing I had was the warm chocolate chip cookie on Mexican night. It was something our head waiter recommended over and over and over, so everyone felt like they had to try it. It was better than we all imagined!

The deep dish cookie was served in a piping hot ramekin and topped with vanilla ice cream.

The outside was crisp and golden, while the inside was perfectly ooey and gooey. It never became too soft, even with the melting ice cream on top.

#2: Roasted poblano pepper soup

Two of my favorite dishes from the cruise were served on Mexican night; yet, only the soup was on the list of the chef's recommendations. 

What I enjoyed the most about this course was the spicy kick that the soup had. The only thing that could have made it better was including more of the roasted corn, red peppers, and sautéed chorizo. 

#3: Crispy coconut jumbo shrimp

On Caribbean night, the chef's recommended appetizer was the coconut shrimp. The shrimp were indeed crunchy, but they had a subtle hint of coconut; the sweet chili dipping sauce is what made this dish so incredible. Someone in my party even got a second order of them! 

I will note that this is when I noticed some inconsistency in plating. The second order came out in an entirely different dish, and the shrimp were noticeably larger. Plus, there was much more of the sauce on the bottom.  

How does the new Main Dining Room menu compare to my previous dining experiences? 

Growing up, my family had a rule that we would only dine in a specialty restaurant once per cruise, so I ate in the Main Dining Room a lot. 

Speed never really mattered, as you could tell the wait staff if you wanted a quicker dinner service because of a reservation to a show. I remember there being times where they were able to get my family of four in and out in about an hour! 

In terms of food quality, it seemed close to what it was in the past. About a quarter of my dishes came out cold, even though Royal Caribbean said that the new menu was going to ensure hotter food. 

My sister was always a picky eater, and she would eat the roasted chicken breast at least three nights on any given sailing; I can see why the removal of the "classics" section is upsetting to some people.

For me, however, I enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying new things, as that's one of the reasons I love cruising. I knew that if I ordered an adventurous entree that I ended up not liking, I could order something else. 

The only night I was truly dissatisfied was Mediterranean night.

If I wasn't in a rush to go pack, I probably would've ordered the grilled Mediterranean steak, as the vegetable moussaka was coated too heavily in unusually dry breadcrumbs for my liking. 

As with anything new, I expected there to be some trial and error for the kitchen staff, but I was overall impressed with the new menus and am looking forward to seeing how the dining experiences on my upcoming cruises compare!

Have you ever wondered what it’s like for crew members when they join a Royal Caribbean cruise ship? 

Royal Caribbean employs thousands of crew members to operate each cruise ship. With any given cruise, you undoubtedly interact with tons of crew members from all over the world. Without passionate, hard-working crew members, it would be impossible for us to enjoy the cruise vacations that we all love and look forward to. 

Just like any job, Royal Caribbean has an onboarding process for its new crew members. One critical component of onboarding is sign-on day, which is a new crew member's first day of joining a cruise ship. 

Read on to enjoy an in-depth look at what happens when a new crew member joins a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. 

Symphony of the Seas crew member, Chris Wong, shares about his experience as a crew member on his YouTube channel

Chris Wong works onboard Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. 

When he’s not working in the casino onboard Symphony of the Seas, Chris Wong films vlogs for his YouTube channel, Chris Wong Vlogs.

With almost 70k subscribers on his channel, Chris provides viewers with a unique perspective of life onboard for Royal Caribbean’s crew members. 

On his YouTube channel, Chris films everything from day-in-the-life vlogs as a Royal Caribbean crew member to his port day adventures. As a crew member in the casino, Chris has also provided viewers with a behind the scenes look at how Casino Royale works on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. 

Just recently, Chris Wong started his 8th contract with Royal Caribbean on Symphony of the Seas.

In an in-depth vlog, Chris takes viewers along for crew member sign-on day. When new crew members join a cruise ship, they must complete an extensive onboarding process, which includes documentation checks, security training, safety briefings and ship tours. 

Chris chronicles his journey to onboarding Symphony of the Seas, starting in his Miami hotel room

Chris explains to viewers that crew members spend one night in a hotel before sign-on day after traveling from their home country. During Chris' vlog, he is staying at a Holiday Inn Express in Miami.

Royal Caribbean’s crew members are each given their own room at a hotel located near the cruise ship’s embarkation port.

From the sounds of it, crew members aren’t entirely sure if they will be sharing their hotel room until they arrive. Interestingly, when new crew members join a cruise ship, they also do not know if they have a single or double cabin onboard for their contract's living arrangements. 

Of course, most crew members hope to receive a single cabin for their contracts, but aren’t surprised if they need to share their cabin, as is standard for most crew living quarters. 

Since Symphony of the Seas sails round-trip sailings from Miami, Chris was flown from his home country to Miami to board the cruise ship. Crew members of all different jobs and positions onboard at the same time to Symphony of the Seas. 

From the hotel, 130 crew members are shuttled to the cruise port to begin the sign-on process.

Upon arrival at the cruise port terminal, Royal Caribbean crew members begin the sign-on process

Similar to any job, Royal Caribbean requires crew members to have all of their documentation checked before boarding the ship for new contracts. 

Crew members first check their luggage before having their medical forms checked, along with required training certifications. One by one, Symphony of the Sea’s medical team verifies that each crew member’s medical documentation is up to date. 

This process can take a while depending on how many medical team members are verifying documentation; for Chris' sign-on day, just two nurses were looking through crew members' paperwork. 

As of January 2023, crew members are still required to take a COVID-19 self antigen test at the cruise terminal before boarding the cruise ship. The vlog does not specify what would happen if a crew member were to test positive at this point. 

Interestingly, masks are still required for new crew members that join a cruise ship. Chris explains that he will be in ‘soft-quarantine’ for his first 5 days once he boards Symphony of the Seas, which means he needs to wear a mask at all times.

After documents are checked and before officially signing on, crew members also receive their ID cards and cabin keys during this time. 

Once finally onboard, crew members see the cruise ship for the first time and attend mandatory safety trainings

After long lines for documentation verification, crew members can finally board their cruise ship to begin the start of their next contract.

At this time, most will journey to their cabin to see if they won the lottery (i.e. received a single cabin). In Chris’ sign-on vlog, he is ecstatic to discover he does not have a cabin mate and instead has the entire cabin to himself. 

Much to my surprise, the crew cabin is extremely small. With just a bed, sink, storage and small TV, the stateroom is no bigger than my master closet. 

However, Chris’ excitement is evident, as he is pleased to have a flatscreen TV, a bed that is not bunked and space to call his own. 

It’s at this time that most new crew members will check out their new home for the next 7 months and wander around the ship. For Chris, this means checking out the casino for the first time. 

Part of the sign-on process is showing new members where fire exits and extinguishers are located, as the ship’s crew is expected have extensive safety training. Understandably, fires are the biggest safety threats to cruise ships. 

In addition, crew members are required to attend a mandatory briefing called pre-departure safety training during their sign-on process. For Symphony of the Seas, this mandatory training took place in the theatre. 

With no time to waste, crew members settle into their cabins before starting their first work shifts.

Since cruise lines have removed almost all pandemic-related policies, Chris explains in his vlog that there’s no longer a quarantine period for Royal Caribbean crew members. For much of the post-pandemic, crew members were required to quarantine for 2 weeks in a balcony cabin.

As one would expect, Chris shares that he will miss having that required quarantine period, as this was an opportunity to relax a bit after onboarding and sleep off the jet lag. 

Before beginning his first shift, Chris spends some time unpacking and getting acquainted into his new cabin. Presumably, Chris has previously worked in Casino Royale during other contracts with Royal Caribbean and did not need to receive additional training before starting his first shift on sign-on day. 

As such, it would appear that some, if not most, crew members are expected to start work right away on sign-on day. 

After the first sign-on day, all crew members receive a safety training tour of their cruise ship

Regardless of a crew members’ prior experience onboard Royal Caribbean ships, Chris shares that all crew members are required to attend safety and security training when they start a new contract. 

It does not matter how many contracts you’ve had with Royal Caribbean, or whether you’ve been on the same cruise ship before, all crew members must attend this training. 

During this training, a safety officer takes all of the new onboarded crew members around the ship for very important briefing on safety and security. This entails a tour around the ship to locate fire doors, water-tight doors and fire extinguishers. 

Royal Caribbean's crew members are required to complete this important safety training; in the case of an emergency, all crew members onboard a cruise ship are expected to know how to respond to virtually any potential emergency situation. 

During Chris's vlog, we can see two crew members learning how to use a large hose in the case of a fire emergency. 

Although this training was done virtually during the post-pandemic cruising restart, crew members are given the tours in-person now as part of a large group. 

At the end of his first week on Symphony of the Seas, Chris shares that he finally feels settled into his new routine. 

Between working and training, the first week onboard a cruise ship can be exhausting for new crew members. 

Chris states in his sign-on day vlog that new Royal Caribbean crew members can expect to receive extensive training throughout their first week onboard their new cruise ship. Working long shifts and attending multiple trainings is certainly tiring and leaves little time for relaxing and resting. 

Not to mention, most crew members have traveled long distances to board their cruise ship and are still fighting off jet lag. 

By the end of his first week onboard Symphony of the Seas, Chris shares that he feels settle into his new home onboard. Coming previously from Wonder of the Seas, another Oasis-class ship, the transition has been pretty seamless for him. 

Of all his 8 contracts, Chris believes that his single cabin on Symphony of the Seas is the best crew cabin he's ever lived in. 

During the next 7 months, Chris will be working in Symphony of the Seas’ Casino Royale while the ships sails around the Caribbean until moving to Europe this summer. 

If you're interested in learning more about life for Royal Caribbean crew members, including the sign-on process, be sure to follow Chris Wong on his YouTube Channel at @ChristopherWongVLOGS for more videos!

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

Is a Royal Caribbean drink package worth the up-front cost?

Allie tried the deluxe beverage package for the first time on her recent Mariner of the Seas sailing and came away thinking it wasn't the right investment for her.

Here's her experience with why she learned the drink package wasn't a good choice for her.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is letting cruisers vote on the name for its second Icon Class cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean kicks off new year with 7-night fares less than $500 per person
• What you need to know before booking a cheap cruise
• The FAA system outage reminded us why you shouldn't violate 1 of the biggest unwritten rules about cruise planning
• Symphony of the Seas has over 20,000 plants, and its my favorite spot onboard
• I went to a stunning Caribbean island on my cruise that you've probably never heard of

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 483rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Matt talks with Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist about his job keeping passengers and crew safe from any kind of bad weather.

Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to employ a full-time meteorologist, and we talk with Mr. Van Fleet about his daily work to stay ahead of the weather.

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: I stayed in a $13,000 suite on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship

{"preview_thumbnail":"/sites/default/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/_VjCfwH-KJs.jpg?itok=AskNUf-P","video_url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VjCfwH-KJs","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}

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 — I stayed in a $13,000 suite on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Here's how Royal Caribbean's free chat feature works

The chat feature in Royal Caribbean's app is now free!

So how well does it work and what should you know about the chat feature before you use it?

We have a walkthrough of the chat feature and what you should know about it before you start using chat on your next cruise.

Should you book your next cruise while onboard?

Royal Caribbean has the option to let you book another cruise while onboard, but is it worth it?

By booking a cruise on the ship, you can take advantage of extra onboard credit and reduced deposit. It's incentives that are otherwise not available and stackable with Royal Caribbean's regular offers.

Like anything, there are drawbacks to the program, so it's important to know the pros and cons of NextCruise.

The downsides to cruising a lot

We all love to cruise as much as possible, but there are some downsides to cruising often.

 This isn't meant to be any kind of pity party, just a way to share an inside look at the realities of going on cruise ships a lot.

From spending less time at home to gaining a few inches on the waistline, here are the top downsides to cruising a lot.

Could Royal Caribbean be letting the general public pick the name for its next cruise ship?

The selection of a cruise ship name is usually an internal process that executives undertake in order to determine the optimal name based on a variety of criteria, but Royal Caribbean may be opening it up in this case.

The cruise line posted on social media an invitation to choose between four names for its next Icon Class cruise ship.

The choices are:

• Star of the Seas
• Idol of the Seas
• Love of the Seas
• Queen of the Seas

There's even a voting poll on Twitter, along with an informal reaction poll on Facebook.

We want to hear from you! Which is your favorite for our second Icon Class ship? pic.twitter.com/DcLyDg26sW

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) January 14, 2023

For what it's worth, the only name that is trademarked with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Royal Caribbean is Star of the Seas, which the cruise line registered on June 14, 2022.

In searching the trademark database, there are no entries for the other three names. That may or may not mean anything.

Trademark registrations are not necessarily indicative of what the company may or may not do.

Read more: 8 things Royal Caribbean trademarked but never did anything with

Of course, the polls on social media may not be a binding choice in which name the cruise line will use. If nothing else, exposing possible names for the ship to the public is a rare occurrence.

Icon of the Seas, the first in the class, is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Her first sailing is scheduled for January 27, 2024.

The company has orders in place for two more Icon Class ships. The other two Icon Class ships will be in service by 2026.

In speaking with Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider in November 2022, he indicated the name for the third Icon Class ship is set, but the second ship was still in the air.

"I'm still taking ideas on Icon two and Icon three. I feel really confident in the name we have for Icon three, it's actually two that we're still working on."

Picking a ship name

Picking a cruise ship name is no simple task, and Royal Caribbean often juggles dozens of names before settling on one.

Royal Caribbean will commonly register many trademarks for new cruise ship names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

As an example, in December 2021, the company registered 24 new cruise ship names.

Why so many?

Part of the process is not only reserving names they intend to use, but also names they know they will not use. Because trademarks are a matter of public record, from a competitive advantage standpoint, they'll include other names to prevent tipping their hand in which direction they'll go.

For many, a cruise vacation is perhaps a once a year kind of vacation, but there are folks that cruise much more often than that, including myself.

We’d all love to cruise frequently with Royal Caribbean—or perhaps even live on a cruise ship—but what are the downsides to cruising a lot?

Millions of passengers sail on cruise ships each year, many of whom find themselves cruising several times per year. It’s not uncommon for those living near a cruise port to sail once a month (or even more!).

Like anything in life, though, doing something too frequently has its downsides. This isn't meant to be any kind of pity party for those of us that cruise often. Rather, I wanted to share with you an inside look at the realities of going on cruise ships often.

Suffice to say, I'm very lucky to have a job that allows me to cruise many times in a year and I love going on ships as a means of not only work, but a way to see the world.

From spending less time at home to gaining a few inches on the waistline, here are the top downsides to cruising a lot.

Cruising becomes less special

If you do anything too frequently, it loses its charm. The same can be said about cruising, and the more you cruise, the less likely you are to experience that “WOW” feeling you had when you boarded a Royal Caribbean cruise for the first time.

Cruising frequently—whether once a month or once a week—turns what would be a special experience into a routine. Elegant three course meals, complimentary entertainment, and a daily schedule of activities become your average day-to-day life instead of something unique.

If you start to feel dulled by the cruise experience, it might be best to take a short break from cruising so you can appreciate it more next time you get onboard.

Less time at home

The more you cruise, the less time you’ll spend at home. And while this may be a trade-off many frequent cruisers are happy to make, it’s important to realize the downsides of spending less time at home.

Cruising frequently means spending less time with your pets, friends, and family members. Not much makes me feel worse than when I'm cruising and picture my dog anxiously waiting for my return home!

Taking cruises a lot can be challenging if you have kids in school, too, and there’s a possibility they’ll fall behind on schoolwork if you take them out of class to cruise.

Before planning frequent cruises, account for how much time you’ll be away and whether commitments at home will allow you to do so.

Overindulgence of food and drinks

One downside to cruising a lot is that, unfortunately, your waistline might increase by a few sizes. Whether a second dessert at dinner or unlimited cocktails on the pool deck, most cruisers find themselves overindulging onboard.

If you cruise a lot, it’s possible you’ll find yourself eating and drinking much more than you otherwise would at home. This can wreak havoc on any healthy eating goals, although there are a few ways to combat cruise ship weight gain.

Related: How I kept from gaining weight on my cruise

Consider taking the stairs instead of the elevator, opting not to purchase the Deluxe Beverage Package, and going on daily walks on the jogging track.

Watching the same shows over and over

Because Royal Caribbean ships often stick to the same homeport for several years, many frequent cruisers who live by a cruise port find themselves sailing on the same few ships over and over.

While there’s nothing wrong with this, one downside to sailing multiple times on the same ship is that the entertainment doesn’t regularly change.

Luckily, Royal Caribbean offers stellar entertainment options, from full-length Broadway musicals to brilliant AquaTheater performances. Therefore, even if you do end up sailing on the same ship several times, you’re still guaranteed to be wowed each time you see a show.

Visiting the same destinations

Although Royal Caribbean offers cruises to a diverse array of destinations around the world, many frequent cruisers find themselves sailing to the same few ports.

Texans who only cruise out of Galveston, for example, will usually only sail to ports in the Western Caribbean such as Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan, and Belize City. Additionally, those in the northeast will have few choices, with the Bahamas or Canada being the most common options.

Related: 15 countries you didn’t know you could cruise to on Royal Caribbean

If you’re open to flying frequently, you can cruise to a wide range of destinations. For those who live near a cruise port, though, it’s often more tempting to pick the most convenient cruise possible, even if it visits a port you’ve been to twenty times before.

It can get expensive

While the idea of cruising a lot seems nice, the reality is that planning a cruise vacation frequently gets expensive.

It’s not uncommon to find cheap cruise deals for $50 a night per person, but if you cruise once a month (or even more frequently), you’ll be shelling away thousands of dollars throughout the year.

Related: How much does a cruise cost?

Add in the cost of internet, shore excursions, drinks, and specialty dining, and cruising several times a year can become cost-prohibitive for many cruisers.

The bottom line: should you cruise a lot or less often?

Even though there are downsides to cruising a lot, the advantages still outweigh the drawbacks. There’s something to be said about island hopping to gorgeous destinations on the regular, and I’ll always choose to cruise whenever I have the opportunity.

That being said, it’s important to realize that there are certain downsides to cruising often. Less time at home, spending too much money on vacations, and even becoming jaded with the cruising experience are all valid concerns with planning a cruise too often.

If you cruise frequently, have you experienced any of these downsides to cruising a lot? Let us know in the comments below!

Odyssey of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's innovative cruise ship, is a spectacular experience that combines cutting-edge technology with luxurious amenities and exciting entertainment to create an unforgettable vacation.

The ship has a rock-climbing wall and basketball court. There is also a casino, several restaurants and bars, and a theater that hosts Broadway-style shows.

What makes this ship stand out is the expansive range of activities it provides its guests. Onboard, you can find a variety of high-end restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges, as well as live music and entertainment. Furthermore, Odyssey of the Seas offers plenty of exciting sports and leisure opportunities such as rock climbing walls, surf simulator and even a sky diving simulator! 

You can also stay connected with friends and family while onboard through complimentary Wi-Fi access. There are also various retail outlets where you can find souvenirs to take back home or pick up everyday essentials.

If you’re looking for some rest and relaxation then Odyssey of the Seas has plenty to offer here too. Its Vitality Spa encompasses a variety of treatments from massages to facials for those looking for some pampering during their cruise; alternatively you can lounge at one of their tranquil outdoor pools or enjoy time in one of their hot tubs overlooking the sea.

Odyssey of the Seas overview

Odyssey of the Seas debuted in 2021, and her arrival was met with a great deal of enthusiasm as the ship brought with it some really exciting new offerings onboard.

Royal Caribbean designed Odyssey of the Seas with different areas of focus, and unlike other Quantum Class ships, she has some noticeable additions. If you have been on Anthem of the Seas or Ovation of the Seas, you may notice changes the cruise line made to the layout of the ship.

Let's focus on the major areas of the ship to get a better sense of what is onboard:

• Royal Esplanade
• Resort-style pool deck
• Two70
• SeaPlex

If you are concerned about crowds, Royal Caribbean designed the ship with enough to do so that there will be enough going on to draw guests away from always wanting to be in the same area. Odyssey has many of her best things to do in the front or aft of the ship, which helps with crowd management.

As with any cruise ship, it is a good idea to walk around the ship once you get onboard to get a better sense of where everything is located. By exploring the ship early, you can get your bearings and be able to navigate the ship better later on.

What is special about Odyssey of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean differentiated Odyssey of the Seas in a few ways from her sister Quantum Class ships.

First, it has Playmakers Sports Bar and placed it in the SeaPlex. This is the first ship to combine both venues.

Second, Odyssey does not have an indoor pool like other Quantum Class ships. Instead, Royal Caribbean went with a resort style pool approach, meaning there's two outdoor pools in addition to the enclosed Solarium.

In addition, Odyssey has the new Giovanni's Italian Kitchen specialty restaurant concept.

Odyssey of the Seas dining and restaurants

There are 17 different restaurants on Odyssey of the Seas, along with multiple bars and lounges. Royal Caribbean was certain to include many options so guests had plenty of choice and no single venue became too overcrowded.

The variety of dining venues (paid and complimentary) gives passengers a choice of cuisines, cooking styles, and price.

The complimentary dining venues are included with your cruise fare, and you will be able to find plenty of food at no additional cost for every meal and snacks inbetween. In fact, the complimentary dining is quite good, and should not be overlooked because the food included with your cruise fare is cooked fresh every day and covers a great deal of tastes.

Specialty dining has an additional cost to it, and allows guests to opt into dining at these venues if they prefer. Most venues have a cover charge, where each guest pays a flat fee and all the food is included. A couple of venues have an a la carte menu, where you pay for each item individually.

The reason to go to a specialty restaurant is for a cooking style or cuisine not otherwise available on the ship. Specialty dining is a splurge, and is akin to choosing to go to  a restaurant at home instead of having something in your house: there's nothing wrong with the food you have at home, but sometimes it is nice to pay for a meal out.

Specialty dining is not cheap, but there are dining packages you can purchase before the cruise to get a discount on multiple restaurants. 

Here is a list of complimentary and specialty dining options on Odyssey of the Seas:

Complimentary dining

1. Main dining room
2. Windjammer Cafe
3. The Cafe @ Two70
4. Coastal Kitchen (suite guests only)
5. Sorrento's
6. El Loco Fresh
7. Cafe Promenade
8. Solarium Bistro
9. Sprinkles ice cream station

Specialty dining

1. Chef's Table
2. Wonderland
3. Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
4. Chops Grille
5. Izumi
6. Teppanyaki
7. Starbucks
8. Playmakers
9. Room service
10. Pub

Should you eat at the included restaurants or try a specialty restaurant? It depends on your budget and tastes, but it is nice to mix in a specialty restaurant or two.

Most passengers focus primarily on the complimentary restaurants, such as the Main dining room and Windjammer. The ample snacks and between meal bites at El Loco Fresh and Sorrento's. In short, there is a good variety of food between these venues that will leave you satisfied.

If you are staying in a suite, you should also consider going to Coastal Kitchen, which is only for suite guests and offers a completely different menu from the main dining room. Royal Caribbean fans that cruise a lot in suites swear by how good Coastal Kitchen is, and since it is included with the cost of your suite, you should plan to dine there if you can.

If you would like to dip your toe into specialty dining, consider purchasing a 3-night dining package as a way to get a good deal on a few restaurants. Some of my favorites include Teppanyaki, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, and Playmakers.

Things to do on Odyssey of the Seas

Royal Caribbean offers passengers as much to do on Odyssey of the Seas as any cruise ship, and you will quickly find there are lots of really fun things to try.

In fact, it can feel like a floating city with all the activities to consider. Your best bet to keep track of what is offered and when is to read the daily Cruise Compass. Think of the Cruise Compass as a TV Guide for everything planned that day, including hours for all the activities, dining, shows, and live performances.

A copy of the Cruise Compass will be delivered to your stateroom each evening by your stateroom attendant, and you can also view it on the Royal Caribbean app.

Signature activities

Odyssey of the Seas stands out from other cruise ship with a few notable attractions onboard that are sure to get anyone's attention.

While there are traditional cruise ship activities onboard, such as bingo, trivia, and demonstrations, there are also lots of whiz-bang things to do as well:

• FlowRider surf simulator
• Rock climbing wall
• Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator
• NorthStar observational pod
• Sky Pad virtual realty bungee experience
• Zone Zero fully immersive virtual reality experience
• SeaPlex activity center
• Bumper cars
• Music Hall
• Splashaway Bay aqua park for kids

Most of these activities are completely free to do on Odyssey of the Seas, although Royal Caribbean does charge for some. 

You can book certain signature activities ahead of time, either before your cruise on the Royal Caribbean cruise planner website, or via the Royal Caribbean app once you are onboard the ship.

Hours for all activities will be published daily in the Cruise Compass.

Something completely different you should try is Zone Zero, which is an immersive virtual reality experience. At a cost of $18.00 per person, you put on a full VR suit and literally walk around a VR world.  That is not to say you sit and explore like a video game; Rather, you physically walk in the real world while seeing a virtual one, where you battle pirates. Incredible stuff.

The North Star is another really fun thing to try out, where the observational pod will take you over 300 feet above sea level to see your ship and whatever is around you. Currently, North Star costs extra if you are on a sea day, but it is complimentary for port day. Schedule it on port days right when they open in the morning or late afternoon before the ship departs to get a free ride at a convenient time.

Ripcord by iFly is another popular activity, where you put on a special suit and enter a wind tunnel to get a sense of what it is like to sky dive. 

North Star, Ripcord, and Zone Zero are all bookable via the Royal Caribbean app, but book them as soon as you can because space is very limited.

The SeaPlex is a hub of activity, where you will find lots of different things to do throughout the day and cruise. Bumper cars, pickleball, soccer, basketball, dancing and more will be available. Check your Cruise Compass for times.

Something else different about the SeaPlex is the fact Playmakers sports bar is located inside. Not only can you have a drink or meal while watching the action in the SeaPlex, there are 56 televisions around the bar to catch your favorite team. It is easily the best Playmakers location on any Royal Caribbean ship.

Shows

There are two main shows on Odyssey of the Seas, with plenty of other performances to check out.

All shows are under an hour in duration, which means the performances are all at a good length to not leave you overwhelmed.

"Showgirl: Past. Present. Future." is a tribute to the dance style Las Vegas showgirls have made famous for decades. It looks at the style of dance from different eras and presents it in a fast-paced original production that has a lot of energy behind it.

You can find Showgirl performed in the Royal Theater.

"The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure" is another original production that loosely tells a story of a librarian who explores the chapters of a book through song, dance, and music. It is difficult to describe this show in writing, but it is certainly a visually impressive production with lots of different elements and performing styles intertwined to create an act you have never seen before.

You can find The Book performed in Two70.

You should absolutely book reservations for Showgirl or The Book to ensure you have a spot for it, as seating is very limited (especially in Two70). There is no cost to make show reservations, and you can book it via the Royal Caribbean app once onboard the ship.

Be sure to also allocate time to see the live music on Odyssey of the Seas. Music Hall has a live band most nights, and it is as close as you can get to a rock concert on a cruise ship. 

You will also find live music in other lounges onboard, including Boleros, Schooner Bar, and the Pub. Royal Caribbean puts a lot of pride in their live music onboard, so check out as much as you can.

Pools

Odyssey of the Seas has resort-style pool deck that is not otherwise available on other Quantum Class ships, and it is a great layout.

There are two main pools for all guests on Odyssey of the Seas, along with the adults-only Solarium.

The two pools are separated by a structure in the middle, but it helps break up crowding.  You will find in-pool loungers, and lots of seating all around the pool deck. 

Royal Caribbean integrated the entire pool deck with the Lime and Coconut, which is a multilevel bar venue that evokes a certain level of fun with your pool day. 

On the second pool deck, you will find casitas that you can rent for an additional fee, along with hot tubs that overlook the lower pool deck. There are hot tubs on the lower pool deck too.

Pools will be closed occasionally when they need to be cleaned as well if weather or sea conditions make the pools unsafe for swimming. Otherwise, there is usually a pool and hot tub open for use.

The adults-only (age 16 and over) Solarium is a beautiful space, and it is enclosed which means the temperature is far more manageable on hot summer days.

Kids will find Splashaway Bay a fun place to get as wet as possible without actually jumping in a pool. There are water slides, drench buckets, geysers, and just about every other possible way to get soaked.

Kids programming

If you have children under the age of 18, there is an entire area of the ship reserved just for them at Adventure Ocean.

Odyssey of the Seas features the revamped Adventure Ocean that brings a new focus on activities for kids to do together, along with an infusion of some fun technology.

If you are unfamiliar with Adventure Ocean, programming is divided up into age-appropriate groups:

• AO Junior (ages 3 to 5)
• Hangout (ages 6 to 12)
• Social180 (ages 13 to 17)

Adventure Ocean is complimentary during the day and evening, up until 10pm. After 10pm, there is an hourly cost per child.

Adventure Ocean is open most of the day, but their hours vary depending on if it is a port day or sea day.  On sea days, Adventure Ocean typically opens at 9:00am.  It then closes at noon and re-opens at 2pm and remains open until 5pm.  The evening session then runs from 7pm to 10pm.

In addition, there is a Nursery for toddlers ages 6 to 36 months. The Nursery always has an hourly charge, but is designed for babies and toddlers.

The teen club is known as Social180, and it is like a clubhouse where teens meet before they participate in an activity there or elsewhere on the ship. Often there are teens-only events, such as bumper cars or FlowRider time.

How to plan your Odyssey of the Seas cruise

As with any Royal Caribbean ship, planning ahead of time is very important to ensure you get to do everything you want.

At some point in the future, you will be able to book entertainment and shows ahead of time via Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website. 

For now, you can only book these activities once onboard the ship via the Royal Caribbean app. So be sure to have the app downloaded and ready to go before you get onboard. You can download the Royal Caribbean app from either the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store.

The app is capable of providing a digital SetSail pass once you complete online check-in. Just like a boarding pass for an airline, you can show the pier agents your SetSail Pass via the app and get onboard.

Make sure you complete the online check-in for your cruise as early as possible to get an early check-in time. Royal Caribbean enforces their check-in times (they didn't use to care about arrival times), so getting an early time is important.

Odyssey of the Seas frequently asked questions

Is Odyssey of the Seas the biggest ship?

If you're wondering of Odyssey of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet or the biggest cruise ship in the world, the answer to both questions is "no".

Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum Ultra class ship, and she comes in at 347.1m long and 41.1m wide and has a gross registered tonnage of 169,300t. While that is no small ship by any means, she is still smaller than any of the Oasis Class ships.

The biggest cruise ship in the world is Symphony of the Seas (soon to be eclipsed by Wonder of the Seas).

Symphony of the Seas measures 228,081 gross tons and is 1,188 feet 1 inch in length (362.12m).

What is a Quantum Ultra class ship?

When you read about Odyssey of the Seas, you may hear she is a Quantum Ultra class ship and wonder what makes that different from Quantum Class ships.

In practice, the difference between a Quantum and Quantum Ultra Class ship is less noticeable than the difference between other classes of ships. Think of it more like a sub class of the Quantum Class, rather than a completely different categorization of Royal Caribbean vessel.

Odyssey has the same basic layout and signature activities of a Quantum Class ship, such as the North Star, SeaPlex, Ripcord by iFly, a Royal Esplanade and more.

The real difference is when you look at the layout and additions Royal Caribbean has made compared to her older siblings. Odyssey has been reworked a bit, with a unified main dining room, a SeaPlex that features Playmakers sports bar, and a new resort-style pool deck.

Some other changes you will find on a Quantum Ultra class ship include a SkyPad, the indoor pool is now outdoor, a Teppanyaki restaurant, and a slightly larger size.

Read more: All about Royal Caribbean's ship classes

Does Odyssey of the seas have Central Park?

No, the Central Park area is only found on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

How many pools are on the Odyssey of the Seas?

There are two main pools on Odyssey of the Seas, and an adults-only Solarium pool.

The main pools have a resort-style theme to it that have in-pool loungers.  Something else different is there are hot tubs on the upper pool deck with a see-through side.

There is a smaller version of Splashaway Bay for kids to enjoy.  While it is not a pool, there are drench buckets, a kids slide, geysers and plenty of ways to cool off.

Does Odyssey of the Seas have laser tag?

No, laser tag is not offered on Odyssey of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean offers laser tag on ships that have a Studio B ice skating rink, so that space can easily be converted over to laser tag when necessary.

Does Odyssey of the Seas have a Bionic Bar?

Yes, there are robot bartenders on Odyssey of the Seas that can serve you drinks.

The Bionic Bar is located on deck 5 next to the shore excursions desk.

Anyone can order a drink from the Bionic Bar, as it can make alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Just go to the one of the nearby tablets and place an order. You have the choice of selecting from pre-defined drink recipes, or creating your own concoctions.  

After submitting your drink order, the robots assemble and serve the drink in the order they came in.

Does Odyssey of the Seas have an escape room?

While there is not a dedicated escape room on Odyssey of the Seas, they still offer an escape room game you can play.

Known as "A Royal Mystery" puzzle challenge, it is a game developed by the same company that creates the escape rooms for Royal Caribbean on other ships.

Held in Two70, this is a complimentary escape room game where teams try to solve a series of puzzles based on clues hidden throughout the room to help solve a whodunit murder case.

Guests participating have a set amount of time to comb over the details provided, as well as clues and puzzles they will discover until they can solve the case.  

Check the Cruise Compass for when A Royal Mystery will be offered.

Where is the Odyssey of the Seas right now?

Odyssey of the Seas is offering roundtrip cruises from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for winter 2022-2023.  There are 6- and 8-night sailings to choose from while the ship sails from Florida.

In summer 2023, Odyssey will transition to offer Mediterranean cruises.

Which restaurants are free on Odyssey of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean provides a number of restaurants that will cost you nothing extra onboard.

• Main dining room
• Windjammer Cafe
• The Cafe @ Two70
• Coastal Kitchen (suite guests only)
• Sorrento's
• El Loco Fresh
• Cafe Promenade
• Solarium Bistro
• Sprinkles ice cream station

In addition, there are specialty restaurants you can dine at that cost extra, but offer cuisines and/or cooking styles not otherwise available onboard.

Read more: Odyssey of the Seas restaurants

Does Odyssey of the Seas have a water slide?

Splashaway Bay does offer kids a water slide, but Odyssey of the Seas does not have the Perfect Storm water slides found on other ships for guests of all ages.

Located on deck 14, there are two slides for kids to enjoy in Splashaway Bay, a small traditional slide and a tube slide.