Royal Caribbean Blog

An Alaska cruise sounds like an amazing adventure, but how different is it from a Caribbean cruise?

Two of Royal Caribbean’s most popular cruise destinations are the Caribbean and Alaska. Both offer the chance to set sail on an impressive ship, enjoy onboard entertainment and dining, and create memories with your fellow passengers.

Aside from those similarities, though, there are a vast array of differences between a Caribbean and Alaska cruise. From swinging on a hammock in Mexico to walking on a glacier in Juneau, here are the top differences between these two cruise regions.

The scenery

In the Caribbean, sea days usually mean a day at sea with no views around you except the open ocean. And while this is a wonderful view, time spent at sea in Alaska could not look more different.

Most of the time spent on an Alaska cruise will be within the Alaskan or Canadian Inside Passage. The Inside Passage is a stretch of ocean that runs from Puget Sound in Washington and along the British Columbia and Alaska shoreline up to Skagway.

The Inside Passage offers unbeatable views of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife as you sail through awe-inspiring fjords. If you’re lucky, you may even spot whales swimming near the ship and, as fall approaches, the northern lights peeking out from the sky.

Cruise Tours

A unique aspect of Royal Caribbean’s Alaska cruises is the possibility to book an Alaska Cruise Tour. These are 3-6 night land-based tours that you can book before or after your Alaska cruise.

For example, you can book a 7-night cruise leaving Vancouver on Radiance of the Seas, visiting Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, and Hubbard Glacier. The cruise will end in Seward, Alaska, where you will begin a 3-night tour on land visiting Seward, Talkeetna, and Denali, Alaska.

You can also do a land tour after a round-trip Alaska cruise. As an example, you can book a 7-night roundtrip cruise from Vancouver on Serenade of the Seas. The cruise will visit Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Tracy Arm Fjord. After the cruise, you will begin the “Mountain Resort Experience Cruisetour” which visits destinations in Canada including Calgary, Jasper, and Banff.

Booking an Alaska Cruise Tour gives you the opportunity to explore Alaska or Canada beyond the Inside Passage and see some of the region’s most magnificent and famous sites. Just like a cruise, the price includes lodging, transportation, and sightseeing. Air transportation, shore excursions, and meals ashore are not included unless otherwise noted.

Planning a port day is more important in Alaska

On a Caribbean cruise, the ports you visit are often a second thought compared to the ship you choose. Planning your time in port may simply mean choosing from a list of beaches where you can spend the day or strolling around the cobblestone streets of Puerto Rico.

You aren’t visiting Alaska just to spend the day sitting in a pool chair, though. Ports in Alaska require more planning. It’s important to research shore excursions and things to do in your port of call to ensure you don’t miss out on anything you are interested in.

Whale watching excursions, glacier visits, and historical train rides are just some of the unique shore excursion opportunities waiting for you in Alaska.

Shore excursions may be slightly more expensive in Alaska than what you are used to in the Caribbean. And while there are more expensive excursions, such as helicopter tours over Mendenhall Glacier, you will be able to find more budget friendly options too.

The food

Discovering new cuisines is an integral part of exploring a new place. Whether cruising to the Caribbean or Alaska, you will have the chance to taste new foods and drinks local to the area.

Caribbean food means fresh, tropical flavors. Spending the day in Puerto Rico? Order the original piña colada in old San Juan. Going to the Bahamas? Be sure to taste authentic conch fritters from a fish fry. Hoping for something healthy? Enjoy a fresh mango pineapple smoothie in St. Maarten.

Just like in the Caribbean, the food on an Alaska cruise will give you a look into the region’s history and cultural influences. One of the most popular foods to try in Alaska is freshly caught seafood. There are seafood restaurants available in every Alaska port, and Royal Caribbean even offers excursions that visit an outdoor salmon bake!

Other than seafood, you may want to taste Russian-influenced cuisine throughout Alaska or warm up with traditional Alaska fry bread and a hot chocolate.

Regardless of whether you are cruising to the Caribbean or Alaska, you are definitely going to enjoy some delightful meals.

The weather

Taking weather into consideration is much more important on an Alaska cruise compared to in the Caribbean. 

You will almost always encounter warm weather in the Caribbean. While the winter months may be a bit cooler and the summer months warmer, the weather mostly remains comfortable. Weather forecasts may show rain, but this usually means brief afternoon showers. And while the fall may be peak hurricane season, Royal Caribbean will change itineraries to avoid getting in the path of a potential storm.

Whereas weather in the Caribbean can be more predictable and comfortable year-round, weather on an Alaska cruise is always changing. The Alaska cruise season runs from May - September, and each month brings different weather conditions.

Early May and September, being the shoulder seasons, can see more unpredictable weather. June, July, and August are the busiest months to cruise to Alaska and will see the warmest temperatures. Late May and the beginning of June tend to have some of the best weather in the region during the year.

Regardless of the month you sail to Alaska, be prepared for the weather to change several times throughout the day. You may find yourself shivering in the morning and exploring a port with a t-shirt on in the afternoon!

Packing

Packing for a Caribbean cruise is relatively easy and means shorts, t-shirts, swimsuits, and a sweater or jacket if it gets chilly at night. Packing for an Alaska cruise could not be more different!

Choosing what to pack on an Alaska cruise can seem daunting. Whichever month you sail, though, layers are key to staying comfortable.

Our top recommendation for what to wear on an Alaska cruise is to pack the following:

• Base layer (lightweight t-shirts, long sleeve shirts, leggings)
• Warm layer (sweatshirt, hoodie, sweater, cardigan, jeans, etc.)
• Waterproof layer (rain jacket, rain pants)
• Beanie or other warm hat
• Water-resistant shoes or boots

Don’t make the mistake of only packing cold-weather clothes, though. You may find that a t-shirt is all you need during the day in the peak of summer or that it is warm enough to swim in the outdoor pools once you get closer to Seattle or Vancouver.

In addition, don’t make the mistake of packing way too many clothes for Alaska. Because it isn’t as hot and humid in Alaska compared to the Caribbean, your clothes may stay cleaner longer and you will be able to wear nearly the same outfit each day in port.

Another important packing tip is to bring a waterproof or water-resistant daypack with you in port. Whether you are walking around town or on a whale watching tour, it’s important to be able to keep your valuables dry in case of sudden rain.

Relaxation onboard

A Caribbean cruise is often a big party. Live reggae is played by the pool band as guests go down the waterslides, order a drink at The Lime & Coconut, and participate in pool activities such as the belly flopping contest.

And while a cruise to Alaska has its fair share of partying, the atmosphere of an Alaska cruise is a little more relaxed. You will often find passengers sitting quietly near windows or on the upper decks looking out at Alaska’s astonishing scenery. Instead of a morning at the pool, you may wish to attend trivia at Schooner Bar, listen to jazz at Two70, or just read a book on your balcony.

It can be hard to not want to spend the day doing nothing but relaxing and enjoying the views around you on an Alaska cruise.

Planning an Alaska cruise? Check out these articles:

• Comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Alaska 2022
• What to pack for a cruise to Alaska?
• Top 10 tips for planning your Alaska cruise
• Cruising to Alaska: What I Did Right and Wrong
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise

Three weeks after Royal Caribbean was forced to cancel three sailings on Symphony of the Seas, the ship is back in service.

In early January, Royal Caribbean announced four of its cruise ships would either cancel cruises or remain out of service for a while longer due to a rise in Covid-19 cases, largely due to the Omicron variant.

On Saturday, the first of these ships returned to service without any further delays.

Symphony of the Seas departed PortMiami on a 7-night Western Caribbean itinerary that includes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

According to reports from onboard Symphony, there are 2,937 passengers on this sailing.

When Royal Caribbean cancelled the Symphony sailings, it said it did so, "as a result of the ongoing COVID-related circumstances around the world, and in an abundance of caution."

Royal Caribbean International Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Mark Tamis, told The Points Guy last month the cancelled cruises gave the cruise line an opportunity to take care of crew members and give passengers a better experience, "“One is [that] crew who test positive and are asymptomatic are able to serve their quarantine period on one of these ships."

"It also allows us to have these additional crew members who then can supplement the crew who are not able to work for those 10 days in order to make sure that we’re able to deliver a great vacation and a full experience — all the while protecting our guests, our crew, the ships and the places that we visit, as we have done since our healthy return to service."

Read more: What it's like to be on a cruise ship quarantining crew members

When Symphony of the Seas ceased operations, she was the largest cruise ship in the world.  Today, she has been supplanted by sister vessel Wonder of the Seas.

A look around Symphony of the Seas

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Robert Jaworski is onboard Symphony of the Seas and shared photos from around the ship.

Other ships returning soon

When Royal Caribbean cancelled cruises on four ships last month, they did so in order to minimize the overall impact to the fleet.

The four ships included:

• Vision of the Seas sailings through March 7, 2022
• Serenade of the Seas sailings from Jan. 8–March 5, 2022
• Jewel of the Seas sailings from Jan. 9–Feb. 12, 2022
• Symphony of the Seas sailings from Jan. 8–22, 2022

With Symphony back in service, the other three ships will also return to service in the next month or so.

Serenade of the Seas was already scheduled to go in for a short dry dock, so Royal Caribbean combined her cancelled cruises with the upcoming refurbishment.

Vision of the Seas had not yet returned to service when her debut was pushed back.

Royal Caribbean Group will release its fourth quarter financial results later this week, which will provide insight into many aspects of their business right now.

While quarterly results are primarily focused on sharing the financial health of a company, there is usually insight into the direction Royal Caribbean is going in and even answers to some questions many have about what to expect next.

As Royal Caribbean is still recovering from the cruise industry shutdown of 2020-2021, there are short-term and long-term concerns investors and cruise fans have about cruising.

Royal Caribbean Group will host their call at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Friday, February 4, 2022.

Executives will start the call off with prepared statements about the outlook they have for the near-term future, but the majority of the call is question and answer between Wall Street analysts and the executives. Many times, these questions are of equal interest to cruise fans as they are to investors.

To get a sense of the questions and concerns Wall Street has for Royal Caribbean, I reached out to Dan Kline, Managing Editor, TheStreet.

1. How did Omicron impact the quarter?

There should be a prop bet on how many times the word "omicron" is said during the earnings call with investors, because it will be the primary topic.

From an investment standpoint, people want to know what kind of effect the Omicron variant had on Royal Caribbean's business, in terms of cancellations, cruise fare pricing, and ship capacities.

Mr. Kline will be looking closely at the short and long term impact of Omicron, "Royal Caribbean saw its comeback derailed a little bit by omicron, but the company has handled it well."

"I'm curious to see how the resurgence of the pandemic impacted the quarter and future bookings."

On December 31, 2021, Royal Caribbean Group said they "experienced a decline in bookings and increased cancellations for near-term sailings but to a lesser degree than that experienced with the Delta variant."

How much of that changed in the month since remains to be seen.

2. What percentage of bookings are new money versus future cruise credit?

Another indicator Mr. Kline is keen to know more about is how many bookings are the result of new cash flow versus re-using future cruise credits.

Future cruise credits (FCC) is something given out when cruises are cancelled, and to get a better sense of the company's financial state, comparing the amount of cash the company has versus FCC is another common question.

3. Are they seeing higher on-board spending?

One of the major sources of revenue for Royal Caribbean has been the money guests spend onboard.

While the cruise fare covers costs, the true profit center is money spent by passengers on cruise extras, such as drink packages, shore excursions, wifi and more.

Before the pandemic, Royal Caribbean's high profit quarterly results were almost always a result of higher guest spend.

While cruise ships are still sailing at a reduced capacity, higher spending by passengers could buoy profits.

Even in the third quarter 2021 results, Total revenues per Passenger Cruise Day in the third quarter was up 12% versus record 2019 levels driven mainly by strong onboard revenue performance. 

In fact, Royal Caribbean Group said onboard spending per passenger were at the highest levels in the company's history during Q3 2021.

4. What steps are they taking to manage their debt?

It's no secret that cruise lines took out big loans during the shutdown to keep them afloat in 2020 and 2021, so how are they balancing those obligations to avoid defaulting on the loans?

While this concern is primarily an investment question, it also impacts the average cruise passenger since being able to pay off these loans will allow the company to remain in operation.

5. Where do negotiations stand on the Grand Lucayan?

Mr. Kline is personally curious about Royal Caribbean's capital projects.

We know about plans to expand port projects into places like Nassau and Freeport, Bahamas, so what's the status of these projects.

Why does Wall Street care about port projects? Competitive advantage is a key metric for Mr. Kline, "I'm also very curious to hear about future investments like the Nassau project and the potential for revisiting the Freeport Grand Lucayan deal."

"I think that Royal has a huge lead on Carnival in private destinations and those two projects are fairly important."

How you can listen to the earnings call

There will be full coverage of anything intriguing that comes out of Royal Caribbean Group's fourth quarter 2021 earnings call right here on RoyalCaribbeanBlog, but if you would like to listen on your own, here's how.

The call will be available on-line at the company's investor relations website, www.rclinvestor.com.  

You will be able to listen via the link provided close to the start of the call.

Going on a cruise ship means new challenges, but how can you balance vacation fun with best health practices?

Covid-19 has changed not just the protocols onboard cruise ships, but how guests approach vacation.  So what should you do to better protect yourself along the way?

Since I'm not any kind of health expert, I reached out to Dr. Anthony Harris, M.D, M.B.A, M.P.H. to share his recommendations.

Dr. Harris is the CEO of Hfit Health, where he focuses on how to keep the workforce healthy and the public in general healthy from an exposure standpoint. His company has worked as a corporate medical director with multiple Fortune 50 Fortune 100 companies during the pandemic.

Most importantly, Dr. Harris has kept tabs on the best ways to travel safely with updated regulations.

Wear a K95 mask

Since face masks are required by Royal Caribbean (and other cruise lines) while indoors, your best bet is wear a K95 or KN95 mask.

While these masks are meant to be disposable, Dr. Harris says it's possible to wear them multiple times, "If we're talking about how long, it depends on how often and what environment you're wearing the mask. If they become soiled with either water or different materials, then you want to evaluate and make sure that it's not preventing the mask from performing normally."

"If your mask has not been any tremendous soil scenario, throw it in a paper bag and it'll be nice and fresh for you in the morning."

Moreover, you want to ensure you have enough masks for the entire cruise, "Don't bring just one. Bring some backups."

Read more: My best advice for going on a cruise ship in early 2022 during Omicron

Social distancing

While Royal Caribbean has instituted changes onboard its cruise ships to keep passengers spaced apart, you can avoid being close to other people when possible.

"Be mindful that if you don't have to be elbow and elbow with someone as you're sitting and talking about and enjoying the the views over the bow."

Prioritize being outdoors

When possible, try to spend more time outside than inside.

"We know that being outdoors dramatically decreases your risk of transmission," Dr. Harris recommended. "You're outdoors, you can be a little bit more open in terms of your social distancing and your risk goes down."

Dr. Harris said the reason why being outdoors is important is air movement. Covid is an airborne illness, and Dr. Harris says studies have shown the more air movement you have, the better you are in regards to your risk of transmission.

While you are indoors, Royal Caribbean has already adopted an air flow strategy that mirrors what Dr. Harris recommends, "a standard that we use in health care and facilities is about six times an hour."

Royal Caribbean adjusted shipboard settings to allow for the maximum air changes per hour and upgrading to MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) 13 filters throughout the system. 

In fact, Royal Caribbean says outside air is pulled in as existing air indoors is exhausted on the opposite side of the ship 15-20 times per hour (and up to 12 times in staterooms). That's twice more than what Dr. Harris recommended.

The bottom line for Dr. Harris is just being aware of your surroundings, " be mindful, but don't be fearful, particularly when you're in those settings where you have adequate air movement to reduce your risk."

Read more: New study shows "exceptionally low" risk of airborne particles on cruise ships

Let the crew know if you aren't feeling well

If you should start feeling less than great, you call the medical center onboard.

"Don't hesitate if you should start having any symptoms whatsoever to go and get tested while you're on the cruise."

"You're going to protect the everyone else that's on the on the cruise with you, and you're going to allow the majority of people to enjoy their time without concern or fear around transmission."

Read more: What happens after testing positive for Covid on Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Myth: Should you take an antigen test if you recently had Covid?

I asked Dr. Harris about a concern a number of cruise fans have about testing positive well after recovering from Covid in a PCR test.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com reader Mark Elliott posted last week on our message boards what to do about taking a test months after you had Covid without getting a positive result.

Other readers recommended an antigen test instead of a PCR test, but is that a good idea?

Dr. Harris confirmed Mark's initial concern, "PCR can show that someone is positive for COVID beyond their period of infective infectiousness."

"If you're 10 days after the onset of your symptoms, you are generally no longer infected or infectious. And that's the standard that CDC still has that we use in the clinical community."

If you're past the 10 day period, Dr. Harris said an antigen test is fine, "After that 10 day period, if you can show, and if it's acceptable, a negative rapid test, that's okay."

"Because, again, you're not putting people at risk if you're outside that that time window in terms of exposure to others."

Should you test after your cruise is over?

Assuming you go through your cruise vacation and get home without feeling sick at all, should you still take a Covid test?

Dr. Harris says the answer depends on your situation, "Should everyone test as soon as they get home? Perhaps not."

"You live alone. You're not going to be around anybody with vulnerable predispositions, then you may not need to test."

"But certainly, if you're coming home to grandma and your 90 year old mother or somebody with pre-existing condition...then it's reasonable to go ahead and test."

When should you test exactly after your cruise? Dr. Harris says a test immediately and a few days later makes sense.

He recommends a test when you get home, and then again three days later.

Dr. Harris emphasized testing after the cruise is only necessary for some people, not for everybody, but definitely consider it if you have people in your household who may have pre-existing conditions."

What should you do if you test positive before or after the cruise?

What if you take your Covid test before the cruise and you test positive before you ever board?

Dr. Harris says the first thing to do is test again, "Is it a true positive? There are still some false positives out there. And so consider getting a second test."

If the second test comes back positive again, then you want to quarantine yourself.  Dr. Harris recommends looking for an Airbnb instead of a hotel room for the comfort level it provides.

"Certainly protecting others in that scenario means you're not getting on the plane to travel back to your house while you have a positive result from Covid, staying in place, and using the new guidelines."

After five days, if you test again and you're negative, you're good to travel home.

Read more: I had to cancel my cruise because I caught Covid, here's what happened

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.

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship joined the fleet this week when Wonder of the Seas was delivered.

The new ship was delivered to Royal Caribbean by ship builder Chantiers de l’Atlantique at a small ceremony in Marseille, France.

This is the fifth Oasis Class cruise ship, and Wonder will begin sailing with her inaugural voyage March 4, 2022 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean returns to Labadee
• Royal Caribbean redeploys Spectrum of the Seas to Singapore for April 2022
• Royal Caribbean launches new pre-cruise sale on drink packages, wifi and more
• Royal Caribbean updates: adults-only beach update, new Covid testing partner & more
• What is the state of the cruise industry? Trends and the cruise comeback
• Symphony of the Seas Guide & Review
• The weirdest Alaska cruise questions
• What I learned from my first solo cruise
• Perfect Day at CocoCay beach bed review
• Why taking a weekend cruise is a great escape
• Cruising with vaccinated kids: What to expect on Royal Caribbean
• The myth of the "perfect" vacation

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 439th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, where Jenna shares a review of her cruises on Independence and Harmony of the Seas.

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: When you'll have to quarantine if you get Covid on Royal Caribbean cruise

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 — When you'll have to quarantine if you get Covid on Royal Caribbean cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

The last original Royal Caribbean cruise ship has been scrapped

The ship formerly known as the Sun Viking has been scrapped.

One of the original three Royal Caribbean cruise ships, she was beached this week in Pakistan to be broken up and recycled.

The ship had mostly recently been operating as the Oriental Dragon, where she operated as a a gambling ship in Hong Kong and Penang, Malaysia.

I tried The Key on an Oasis Class ship to see if it's worth it

Should you buy The Key?

Jenna recently sailed on Harmony of the Seas to get a sense if The Key is worth it on an Oasis Class cruise ship.

Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program info, tips & secrets

Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program offers ways to get some great rewards the more you sail.

Earning points for your cruise vacation enables you to move up in the loyalty program, giving you exclusive access to pre-cruise discounts as well as onboard benefits and events.

Check out our comprehensive overview of the program’s benefits and offers.

From the moment we book a trip, we start dreaming about the “perfect vacation” we are going to have.  We imagine all the fun we are going to have, the things we will do and all the places we are going to see.  While this may sound like a reasonable expectation, expecting the “perfect vacation” is a set up for disappointment.  Last I checked, no one is perfect, so extremely high expectations can lead to “disenchantment” while on Enchantment of the Seas.  

When I dream about my vacations, I dream about sun and sand, and my happy, smiling children who are eternally grateful for this wonderful experience that I have given them. 

Instead sometimes the reality is my kids are fighting and throwing sand at each other, the ocean water is freezing cold, and it starts to rain.

Somewhere in there I realize I forgot to pack the sunscreen and my husband becomes “hangry” because we miss-read the hours of the Windjammer and got back to the ship too late.  

It is times like this where I used to throw up my hands in despair and lament that this is NOT how my vacation “should be”!  This is where I need to step back, take a few breaths and remember my kids fight like siblings at home as well.  They will be best friends again by supper time. 

Too much togetherness isn’t good and sometimes they need a little time apart.  This may be some alone time with each parent or a trip to the room for one and Adventure Ocean for the other.  

When my husband is “hangry” I’m eternally grateful for Sorrentos Pizza or the hot dog stand on Oasis and Quantum class ships.  A slice of pizza or a hot dog can make a world of difference and we usually have some emergency cookies stashed in the room for just such occasions.  

When I forget to pack something, I remind myself that beside my passport (and now vaccine cards), there isn’t anything I need that cannot be replaced on the ship or port.  The price may be higher for my forgetfulness, but it is not the end of the world.  Sometimes this is something that I need to remind myself.  We have never been turned away from the main dining room because my husband forgot to bring black dress shoes and dress socks… again.

Thankfully my embarrassment is saved once his feet are tucked under the table cloth hiding his “dress Keens” sandals.  

Traveling with extended family is not an exception to the “perfect vacation”.  The way they behave at Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings is not going to magically change during a cruise.  While cruises are a great way for multiple generations to vacation together; it can provide numerous opportunities for opinions on how children should be raised and behave.  

It is so easy to forget when you watch the commercials of the happy and perfect looking people that vacations are still real life.  When you see people’s vacation photos posted on social media, trust me when I say they likely only posted the “good pictures” where everyone is smiling and happy.  They don’t take pictures when someone is crying or an excursion gets cancelled.  

Vacation can be a great time to work on table manners with kids; unfortunately I have seen adults who could use some remedial training.  On one cruise several years ago there was an elderly woman in her late 70’s who was seated at our table.  She was impossible to please. We watched the crew do everything in their power to try to appease her and make her happy.  It became a game to see how soon into the dinner service she would send something back to the kitchen.  

She received mashed potatoes one evening and insisted on a baked potato after her plate arrived.  When the crew brought it out, she gently touched it with one finger and announced that it was cold.  She then turned her nose up and waved a dismissive hand telling them to “take it away.”  When asked if she would like a different one, she tersely responded that it was “too late” and she didn’t want anything anymore.  

While there is nothing wrong with asking the waiter to fix an order, there is a way to do so with grace and compassion.  Sometimes I’ve left mistakes in place and didn’t point them out.  They ended up being “happy accidents” where I tried something new that I would not have otherwise done.  These are times when I found something new on the menu that I liked.  Also I have some empathy for the crew.  The amount of meals that are going out in such a short order of time means that things will not always be perfect.  Even with a 99.9% accuracy rate, on an Oasis class ship that would mean at least 5 dinners each night being messed up.  

We have had excursions cancelled in the past due to bad weather. One instance was the waves were too high at “Sting Ray City” in Grand Cayman for my children.  Royal Caribbean staff were wonderful in helping us find a substitute excursion on the spot at the Turtle Sanctuary and the Dolphin Encounter.  This has been one of my (and my children’s) favorite excursions to date and it is not one that I would have picked.  Speaking with people that elected to go to “Sting Ray City” despite the waves, said they had a disappointing experience as they were pushed around by the waves and the water was cloudy with poor visibility from all the sand stirred up.  

I could have been disappointed and upset that I didn’t get to go to “Sting Ray City” which was a main reason for picking this itinerary.  On the other hand, I could be thrilled that we had this amazing excursion and have an excuse to come back to this port of call on another cruise, although I might have to convince my children to try an excursion other than the turtles. Sometimes the anticipation is just as satisfying as the actual experience.  

Covid and the related changes have complicated cruising, with onboard shows, ports of call, or even entire cruises cancelled with little notice.  Instead of complaining and asking “Why did this happen to me?!?” instead ask “How is this happening FOR me?” 

Try to find any glimmer of good that can come out of this situation.  It may take some work to come up with a silver lining for a missed cruise, but when you find it, it will feel much better to hold on to that instead of the disappointment and anger. 

We had a cruise that was cancelled in 2020 and instead of being upset, we adjusted directions. We ended up taking a trip to Yellowstone and Utah to visit friends. It was amazing!  We had another one that was cancelled in November 2021.  However, we were able to use the future cruise credits from both of those trips in order to upgrade to a suite for our cruise this past December.  

Just remember wonderful memories and great stories from any vacation rarely start with the phrase “Everything went exactly as planned.”  Many of our most memorable stories and adventures are when things went wrong, we got lost, someone got seasick, or there was some other hardship at the time that we had to overcome.  Our lives are made up of stories and the hero needs to overcome some adversity on their adventure.  

Just picture yourself as the hero of your story and find a way to win the day with an amazing adventure.  Heed the words attributed to Captain Jack Sparrow, who also spent time on a ship and faced many adventures that did not go as planned; “The problem is not the problem.  The problem is your attitude about the problem.”  What story do you want to tell when you get home?  Make it an amazing one since you get to write it, problems and all.      

Wondering what it is like to go on a cruise by yourself? I recently had my first solo cruise experience with a 4-night sailing on Independence of the Seas and a 7-night sailing on Harmony of the Seas.

Before my cruises, I was feeling nervous about what it would be like to go on a cruise alone. 

While I have done travel days alone here and there, I had never done a full vacation solo. In the end, though, I had a wonderful experience and came back with a few tips and tricks that can really enhance a solo cruise experience.

Initial Concerns

I am an extrovert and get a lot of energy from being around and experiencing things with other people. Feeling lonely was my main concern going into my solo cruises. Would I not talk to anyone for 7 days? Would I be doing everything alone? Will I dislike not having someone there with whom I could share my experience?

Another concern I had was with dining. I don’t normally eat alone at restaurants at home, so I was not sure what my dining experience would be like onboard. Going into my cruises, I planned to eat most meals at the buffet and spend my days in port or at sea exploring solo.

In the end, my solo cruise experiences could not have been more different than I initially imagined. I ended the two cruises with new friends and memories made throughout the Caribbean. Most importantly, though, I learned a few key lessons that may help alleviate a few concerns if you are planning a solo cruise vacation.

Meeting other passengers is easy

As soon as I boarded Independence of the Seas for my first solo cruise, I quickly realized that you are never truly alone on a cruise ship. There are thousands of passengers and crew members all around you, so it’s never too hard to strike up a conversation.

During my time on Independence of the Seas, I would go to events onboard that skewed more social, such as trivia, and also chat with the bartenders and crew throughout the ship. 

After my cruise on Independence, I felt extra confident as a solo cruiser for my next sailing on Harmony of the Seas. My solo cruise on Harmony ended up not being very “solo” at all!

As soon as I got onboard, I met two guests, Zach and Collin, at the embarkation day lunch with The Key. We ended up spending a lot of time together throughout the cruise, whether at the Windjammer, Aquatheater, or Solarium.

As the week went on, we slowly introduced more people into our “cruise squad”. One place that proved to be a fantastic social environment onboard were the hot tubs! Hanging out in the hot tub always led to interesting conversations with fellow passengers, several of which I connected with throughout the rest of the cruise.

By the end of the week I had a group of five other passengers to hang out with onboard. From evenings in the Promenade to sunny afternoons on the pool deck, it was a blast. I certainly did not expect to meet such a fun group of people so easily as a solo cruiser.

On the last night we shared a dinner at Jamie’s Italian and it was a wonderful way to close out a “solo” cruise experience that ended up being one of my most social cruises yet.

Dining “alone” can be fun!

Dining is one of the biggest concerns for solo cruisers, but on my cruise I learned that dining alone does not have to seem so intimidating. I found that if I was eating alone, crew members would often stop by my table to get to know me. One morning at breakfast in the Main Dining Room, I was seated at a table next to another solo cruiser and we ended up chatting for around an hour! I rarely had a completely “solo” meal.

The best decision I made, though, was booking dinner at Izumi Hibachi on Independence of the Seas. Izumi Hibachi tables seat eight people. If your group is not a party of 8, multiple parties will be seated together at the same table.

My hibachi table had four separate parties and, as usual, the hibachi experience created an environment of conversation and laughter with plenty of mouth-watering food. I think Izumi Hibachi is the best choice for a solo cruiser looking to enjoy a more social dining experience onboard.

Time in port is really flexible when you’re solo

I thoroughly enjoyed my solo days in port, too. One benefit of cruising solo is that you can choose to do whatever you want while in port. You don’t have to plan around anyone else’s preferences, interests, and schedule. 

I spent my days solo exploring Nassau, cycling around St. Maarten, and chilling out at Perfect Day at CocoCay and had an amazing time, even if I did not share the experience with anyone else.

I also learned that booking excursions can also be an easy way to mingle with fellow passengers. In St. Thomas I reserved the Discover Scuba excursion, which took ten guests to an island off the coast of St. Thomas to learn the basics of scuba diving. The exploratory nature of the excursion fostered a social environment for everyone in the group, leading to a fun afternoon of conversation, diving, and snorkeling.

I spent my days relaxing solo at Perfect Day at CocoCay. If you’re looking to meet guests at Cococay, though, I’d say the best spot to meet people there is Oasis Lagoon. This always turns into a big party in the afternoon and can be a fun way to mingle with other guests (or just people watch as the party gets wild!).

Post-cruise thoughts

Cruising solo is not nearly as “scary” as I thought it would be and I actually enjoyed the independence and freedom it gave me to plan my cruise vacation. As an extrovert I did not feel lonely once, although I did enjoy having an internet package so I could still chat with friends and family back home.

Do I prefer cruising solo or with friends and family? I think I still prefer to cruise with friends or family because a huge part of traveling for me is making memories with those close to me. I feel that some things in life, whether discovering a new island or enjoying a fancy dinner, are better shared with friends and family.

However, I would definitely cruise solo again. Making friends onboard proved to be extremely easy and having a group to hang out with certainly enhanced my experience.

It’s also nice, though, that if I did not want to be social, I could have stayed to myself. There is no requirement to go on a solo cruise with the intention of making new friends or always chatting with other guests and crew. I, however, found the way that works best for me and I am already looking forward to my next solo cruise.

Planning a cruise? Check out these articles:

• Solo cruises on Royal Caribbean
• Top 10 tips for going on a Royal Caribbean cruise solo
• What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?
• What to expect on your first cruise
• The unwritten rules of going on a cruise
• Royal Caribbean frequently asked questons

We recently took a Christmas cruise on Enchantment of the Seas out of Baltimore.  This was the first sailing of Enchantment out of Baltimore after their preliminary test cruise.  We had been hoping that a Covid vaccine would be approved for 5-11 years old age group as it would greatly simplify our trip.

The CDC did approve a COVID vaccine for the age group in early November, making mid-December the earliest a child could be fully vaccinated with the 14 day post vaccination period. This made our trip one of the first sailings where there be COVID vaccinated children ages 5-11 on board.  

As this age group was just approved for the vaccine, there was not the option to upload their vaccine card into the Royal Caribbean App prior to boarding.  We took a photo and had physical copies of everyone’s vaccine cards with us.  This was our first cruise since January 2020, so this was our first experience with the new COVID protocols as well.

Vaccinated people need to have a COVID test 1-2 days prior to boarding.  Unvaccinated children need a PCR test no more than 3 days prior to departure and an antigen test at the port.  Having everyone in the group vaccinated did simplify which test was needed and when it had to be done.  We had plans to arrive in Baltimore a few days prior to the cruise, so we brought our pre-purchased approved home tests to do in the hotel.  

We also made appointments at a CVS near our hotel for testing the day prior to our cruise leaving as a back-up plan, ensuring we wouldn’t have to scramble if there were any issues with the home test.  On various Facebook groups, people have reported that their test kit was missing the dropper bottle or it was empty.  Other people had reported that they couldn’t get a proctor when they needed to for the home test.  Another variable out of our control was the reliability and speed of the hotel Wi-Fi.  

As the home tests come in packs of three or six and we are a family of 4, we ordered the six pack, giving us two back up kits if needed for an indeterminate or defective test kit.  Thankfully the all test kits worked well for us and the hotel Wi-Fi was adequate. We were able to do two tests at a time using two phones. This cut down the time away from our vacation fun by half the time.  Major and I did our tests first and then we helped the kids with their tests when ours were done.  

As soon as we had confirmed negative test results in the Navica App, we cancelled the CVS appointments so they would be available for other people.  It was nice to have that backup, and not need to worry about getting a “Plan B” if there were any issues with the home test.  We have also heard about people having their CVS and Walgreen’s appointments cancelled last minute as well, so I’m glad that we didn’t need to find a “Plan C”.  

Once we arrived at port there was a mild bit of confusion with staff to find the correct line for us.  Staff immediately wanted to place us in the unvaccinated children line to be tested prior to boarding.  We had to explain that our children were fully vaccinated; this seemed to confuse them at first.  After several staff determined that we could be in the vaccinated line, we then had to find the correct vaccinated line as there was one for general boarding and the other for suite guests.  

Once through security, the check in person needed to take pictures of the kid’s vaccine cards and upload them to the Royal Caribbean system, since there was not an option to do this at home.  As they were using a new computer system, this took a bit longer than usual for check in.  However, with a bit of patience and help from one of the computer system trainers, we were on board in no time. 

When we arrived at our room there were two white Royal Caribbean logoed adult masks and two kids cloth masks with rainbow fish.  I thought that the kids’ masks were super cute.  There was also a small bottle of hand sanitizer in the room for us.  The kids muster station bracelets were already in the room as well, rather than us having to go to a check in station for them.  

All vaccinated guests receive fabric bands that indicate their status as vaccinated.  This is a “one size fits all” band and cinches up like a zip tie, so once it is on it can’t be loosened.  This leaves some annoying tails.  One strategy to deal with them is to place the band on the same side as your watch and tuck the tails under your watch band.  For the kids, we trimmed the tails, but learned you need to seal the raw ends as the bracelet will soon begin to unravel. 

After replacing a couple unraveled bands we tried fingernail polish which did the trick.  If you do need a new one because it broke or it is too tight, a quick stop at guest services (or the concierge if you are in a suite or Diamond and above) will fix that.  My daughter went through 3 bands during the course of the cruise.  

Vaccination status did not appear to affect the use of Adventure Ocean, however since we did not sign our kids up, I cannot comment on this.  As my son turned 11 on this cruise and my daughter is 9, they are starting to lose interest in Adventure Ocean and are enjoying the evening shows with us more.  We did not want to take a spot from someone else who would need it or want it more than we did.  

As the kids were vaccinated, they were free to roam the ship with us, we could sit in the main level of the theater and they could enjoy trivia in the Schooner bar with us. Unvaccinated families had to sit in the balcony of the theater and had different dining room floor as well.

The Park Café is in the Solarium, which was vaccinated only, so our children were able to go there.  That was their favorite place to grab a slice of pizza when they needed a midday snack after swimming.  

Speaking of food, we were also able to have our regular early dining time at the main dining room reserved for vaccinated guests.  We were able to be seated with our friends who also had vaccinated children the same ages as ours. 

Despite being a Christmas cruise, there were not as many children as I anticipated seeing.  Finding a table in the Windjammer could still be a challenge as several tables were not in use due to social distancing.  You would need to look for the card on the table to see if it was able to be used.  Sometimes that could take a bit of searching even with the smaller number of guests on board.  

Having everyone vaccinated allowed us to leave the ship at Nassau without a Royal Caribbean excursion scheduled.  We all needed to wear masks off the ship, per Bahamian rules.  We took our vaccine cards with us at Grand Island and Nassau. 

One thing that changed with COVID and was a nice addition was the ability to scan a QR code and order pool towels to be delivered to the room the morning of port rather than standing in a line to check in or check out towels when getting on or off the ship.  

As my kids spent a great majority of time either in our room (the Royal Suite) or at the pool, there was not much time where they really needed to wear masks. 

The lifeguards enforced a limit of 10 people in the pool at one time.  They were also very good at not letting anyone hog the pool the entire time it was open.  At regular intervals the lifeguards asked guests who had been in the pool the longest to allow others who were waiting to have a turn swimming. 

Our lanyards served double duty holding our sea pass cards as well as our masks when we were at the pool or eating.  With the breeze on the pool deck, it was important to keep the masks secured to something.

When we left our room, we would do a quick “mask check” with everyone.  More than once we had to turn around to get a mask that someone forgot.  By the end of the cruise it was second nature for all of us. 

All in all, this cruising experience was very similar to previous cruises.  Very little has changed as wearing masks is part of our daily routine. 

There was better mask compliance and vaccination rate here than at my local grocery store.  With the staff quarantined prior to our sailing, we had a full crew available to serve.  We did not have any issues going to any of our ports and the weather was beautiful. 

Everything that I could have asked for in a cruise vacation happened.  We had a perfect, almost COVID-free vacation.  

The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too?

When people think of cruises, they tend to imagine a sailing that’s seven days or longer. After all, if you’re going to fly to a port for a vacation, you want to maximize your experience.

However, you can find plenty of weekend cruises available, and  the majority of which sail from Florida ports. What makes them so appealing?

Itinerary

Weekend cruises out of Florida are Bahamian itineraries. You will find either Nassau or Grand Bahama island as a port stop.

Nearly every cruise will include a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. What you most likely won’t find on a three day cruise is a day at sea.

The ships are more intimate

One thing to be aware of is that weekend cruises tend to be on smaller ships. While it’s not unheard of for an Oasis class ship to have a shorter, specialty sailing, it’s much more common to find Vision, Radiance, Voyager and Freedom classes doing the weekend sailings. That’s actually a good thing.

You could spend seven days on an Oasis or Quantum class ship and still never see and do everything. Think of how hard that would be with only three days!

There is still plenty to see and do onboard. Most activities that you will find on the seven day sailings are also available on the weekend cruises. From trivia and scavenger hunts to rock climbing and miniature golf.

Some ships even have a Flowrider, water slides and a sky pad. Nightly entertainment includes headliner acts such as singers or comedians, dancing in the lounges and singers in the pub and the Schooner Bar.

If your ship happens to have an ice rink, you will be treated to an amazing ice show. You can also try skating yourself during select hours in the afternoon.

If you’d rather stay indoors, you can always go to the casino. While it will be closed during the day when docked in Nassau or Grand Bahama island, it is open all day when you’re docked in CocoCay. Typical opening hours that day are 8:00 a.m. for slots and noon for table games.

Dining

While these “smaller” ships won’t have every specialty dining restaurant of their larger cousins, you will still have more choices than you could eat in three days.

Of course there is the complimentary options such as the Windjammer buffet, main dining room, pizza and ice cream at the pool. However, you can enjoy specialty dining too. Just about every ship has a Chops Grille and an Italian option, either Giovanni’s or Jaime’s.

Other ships also offer Izumi (some with Hibachi) along with a Playmakers and/or Johnny Rockets. You will still have a “dress your best” night on a weekend sailing so it’s nice to have specialty dining options.

A perfect trip for locals

Those who live in Florida have the luxury of being able to drive to your nearest port. Taking a weekend cruise means being able to go for a quick getaway without having to burn a lot of vacation time, if any.

Weekend cruises are perfect for that special celebration. You’ll always see a birthday or anniversary being acknowledged in the restaurants. These sailings have also become very popular with bachelor/bachelorette parties.

It’s a great way to have a mini vacation to celebrate with your friends.

You can add it on to longer vacation

Quick getaways and minimal time off of work is great for the locals, but why would someone want to travel a great distance for just a weekend cruise?

You could add it on to a land trip you may already have planned. Let’s say, for example, you’re coming to Orlando to visit the theme parks. You can easily add on a short sailing before or after your trip to relax or recharge after all that running around and waiting in lines.

It’s a better value than staying at a hotel on the beach

You really can’t beat the prices. Three day sailings on the Freedom of the Seas out of Miami are currently starting at $151 per person. Even if you could find a resort on the beach for that price, there is no way it’s going to include food, entertainment and transportation.

We do weekend cruises quite often, even referring to the ship as our “weekend condo.” We tend to see the same people regularly, not just the crew but fellow passengers as well! It’s like one big extended family of cruisers.

Seven day or more cruises are the perfect vacation but don’t overlook the weekend sailings when you want a quick get away to the beaches of CocoCay and to enjoy those amazing sunsets at sea.

Planning a short cruise? Check out these helpful articles:

• Is it worth it to book a short 3-night cruise?
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• Top 9 bad mistakes to make on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Why you shouldn't book the cheapest cruise you can find
• How do I pick the perfect first cruise?

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise planner sale has begun!

The new sale offers up to 35% off pre-cruise purchases made between January 28 - February 1, 2022 on sailings departing between February 3, 2022 - December 31, 2022.

Here is what is included during the sale:

Beverage: Up to 40% off

• Classic Soda Beverage Package: 30% off onboard prices.
• Classic Soda Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 35% off onboard prices.
• Spring Water Cans: 40% off onboard prices.
• San Benedetto Water Cans: 40% off onboard prices.
• Evian Water Bottles: 40% off onboard prices.
• Deluxe Beverage Package: Discount varies by ship.
• Deluxe Beverage Package + VOOM Surf & Stream 1 Device: Over 35% off onboard prices.
• Refreshment Package: 30% off onboard prices.

Shore Excursions: Up to 25% off

• Shore Excursions: Discount varies by ship.

Internet: Up to 50% Off

• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.
• VOOM Surf + Stream Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.
• VOOM Surf Voyage Package 1, 2, 3, 4 Device(s): Discount varies by ship.

Dining: Up to 55% Off

• Unlimited Dining Package on 3N – 9N sailings: Discount varies by ship.

Activities: 20% Off

• All Access Ship Tour (excl. Grandeur of the Seas)

Gifts & Gear: Up to 20% Off

• Anniversary Decorations with Champagne
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Chocolate Cake & Strawberries
• Happy Birthday Decorations with Vanilla Cake & Strawberries
• Inky Beach Set
• Inky Beach Towel (TicTacToe)
• Inky Travel Set
• Red Wine and Cheese
• Royal Caribbean Beach Towel
• Strawberries with Champagne
• White Wine and Cheese

Photo Packages: Up to 70% Off

• Photo Packages: From 5 - 100 Print and/or Digital Options: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: Private Photo Session: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: Picture This Private Studio: Discount varies by ship.
• Photo Package: All Digital: Discount varies by ship.

Spa: Up to 30% off

• Spa Packages: Discount varies by ship.

Can I save money with this sale?

Each Royal Caribbean sale adds the potential to save money on the cost of these purchases, but the price does not change for every single sailing and item available to purchase.

Some prices may change, but there is not a flat discount applied across all sailings.  Some people will notice better prices, while others may not see any change.

To check if your sailing has this new offer available, log into the Cruise Planner on Royal Caribbean's web site look for any available offers. Keep in mind that not all sailings may see the sale applicable, nor are all offers significantly cheaper than previously posted.

If you spot a better discount on something you already pre-purchased, you should be able to cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item under this promotion.

More helpful information

• Should you buy pre-cruise purchases now or wait to buy it onboard?
• 45 ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• How much should I budget for a cruise?