Royal Caribbean Blog

How much would you pay to upgrade to one of the best suites on a Royal Caribbean ship?

Michael Poole had originally booked a 7-night cruise on Symphony of the Seas in a Junior Suite, but when the chance to bid to upgrade his cabin came up, he rolled the dice on it.

Star Class is the top tier level suite program, which includes the services of the Royal Genie. Think of the Genie as a blend of butler, concierge, and Willy Wonka.

When you stay in one of these suites, you basically have almost everything included and barely have to wait in any lines. Your Genie can escort you around the ship and get you past almost all the lines.

It's an incredible experience, but not cheap either.  You can expect the price of a Star Class suite for a weeklong cruise to start around $10,000 - $15,000 per person (based on double occupancy).

Michael shared his experience of why he decided to give it a try, and if it was worth spending so much more money.

I paid to upgrade from a "free" cabin

I paid $7,700 to upgrade to Royal Caribbean’s first class suite and I’ve never had a better cruise experience.   

Around a year ago I received a Royal Caribbean Casino Royale certificate for my casino play on a prior sailing.   The offer was for 6,500 casino points, which is valid for a free 7-night Junior Suite cruise.  While looking at all my offers I came across Symphony of the Seas out of Miami, Florida over my 40th Birthday.

Since I was celebrating such a milestone birthday, I wanted something bigger than a Junior Suite, so I called the casino department and asked what my options were to upgrade.  

During that phone call, they informed me I could move up to an Owners Suite for $2,200 more for 3 passengers.  I decided to pay the upgraded charge and have my first cruise in an Owners Suite. It would be my 90th cruise, and it seemed like a great way to splurge.

About 60 days prior to the cruise, I received the RoyalUp bid email asking if I wanted to place a bid on any cabins that might be available, so of course I had to make some bids.  

I placed a bid on the Star Loft Suite for $5,500, and I noticed it was actually still unsold but the website was asking for $21,500.  

One week prior to my cruise I couldn’t believe it, I received the email that they accepted my bid and I’m now sailing in Star Class!

This was something I’d never thought I’d get an opportunity to experience in all my cruises, so I went straight to Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube channel and learned what I would be experiencing.  

Treated like a VIP

From the moment you arrive to the terminal you are treated a VIP,  they took us right up a private elevator and our Royal Genie was waiting for us in the Suite Lounge.   

He took us right up to our cabin where we could drop our bags off and learned our schedule for the week.

My favorite perk in Star Class was the daily Starbucks sent to our room, a few times per day! 

Also, celebrating my birthday in Star Class was incredible, our Genie decorated our cabin and ensured we had all the essentials to having the best in suite party.  

I also loved going to shows and having popcorn already ready for us with our favorite evening beverages waiting to enjoy. 

Finally, the in room dining experience from any of the restaurants was something I’d just never experienced before.  

Was it worth the money?

While I never imagined going into this cruise in Star Class, it will be a sailing that I’ll never forget and having a Genie making everything perfect all week was unlike any cruise I’ve ever experienced.    

One of the perks of Star Class are all the things include in the cruise: 

• Drink package
• Internet access
• Ultimate dining package
• Daily laundry
• Daily gratuities
• So much more

But if you are wondering, I tipped my Genie $650, Stateroom attendant $220, and the assistant stateroom attendant $120.

I loved Star Class so much I booked the Star Loft suite again for the 10 year anniversary Royal Caribbean Blog Group cruise! 

Royal Caribbean has rules against reserving chairs, but that isn't stopping people from flagrantly taking up chairs.

Chair hogs are a perfect sea day's nightmare because as soon as you get to the pool deck, you realize there's no where to sit.

A cruiser aboard Utopia of the Seas took to Reddit to share their frustration involving chair dogs during a recent sailing. 

The post revealed that by 8:30am, all lounge chairs had been "taken" (i.e., claimed with Royal Caribbean's blue pool towels) near the splash pad and three pools. 

With over 300 comments, the post quickly gained traction, with some wondering why Royal Caribbean isn't enforcing its time policy, as it's a common problem on ships within the fleet. 

"I watched a group of ladies go out at 9 am and put their towels out for the family ( 10 loungers) and use the toppers that say 'No reserving lounge chairs' to secure the towel to the lounger. And a staff member up above watching, doing nothing," wrote pennynv.

"They did not actually use the seats till 1pm. Pissed me off. Some people are so entitled."

Albuwhatwhat added that these people aren't just reserving chairs for fifteen or twenty minutes. They're claiming the seats and going to breakfast or worse, back to bed. 

"Royal staff have policies against this but it just isn’t being enforced. I was on a cruise 3 weeks ago where we went swimming at 9am and only maybe 6 other people were there but every single lounger was 'claimed,'" they explain. 

Because of the cruise line's lack of action, others suggested moving the towels yourself

ConsiderationFun7511 added that they've never seen Royal Caribbean enforce its time policy for reserving chairs and have often taken matters into their own hands, saying, "Last cruise I went on, I watched a 'claimed' chair in the solarium be empty for a full hour. Shoes and towel. No one came back to the chair in that time, so I moved the stuff off to the side onto a different chair..."

"Probably 30-40 mins after we’re sitting there, a teen girl and her bf come in - from outside of the solarium- and she aggressively starts asking if I moved her stuff. I said nope, sorry!"

Others chimed in, claiming that it's easy to "mistake" your spot for someone else's when all the towels look the same. 

DrPanda82 commented, "Pick the seats you want, move that stuff to the lifeguard desk, enjoy."

"I would toss it all to the side. This isn’t assigned seating. These are not their chairs," added AZMadmax. 

One Reddit user suggests that Royal Caribbean should add more cubbies around the pool deck

While chair hogs are obviously frustrating to guests who want to utilize the pool deck on vacation, it's difficult for the crew to keep an eye on every lounge chair, especially on mega-ships like Utopia of the Seas. 

Cubbies are often available near waterslides, such as near The Blaster on Navigator of the Seas and the Category 6 Waterpark on Icon. 

However, one Reddit user thinks the chair hog situation would improve if there were more places for guests to safely store their belongings, rather than throwing them on the ground.

"I wish the ships had a [cubby] system. You put your glasses, bag, towel, whatever in the [cubby] and the seats are for actively sitting/sunning," says ArtisanGerard. 

They added that as long as they're free, they felt like they'd be used. ArtisanGerard even said they would use an open cubby without a door or lock, "not like a chair is [safer]."

Tips for beating chair hogs

If you unfortunately encounter chair hogs during your cruise vacation, consider these tips to make the most of your sea day. 

First, though you would think that getting up earlier would secure a prime spot on the pool deck, LongroddMcHugendong's Reddit post reveals that others are thinking the same thing, with most chairs being taken by 8:30am. 

Instead, consider staying onboard one port day. With fewer guests on the ship, you can take advantage of relatively empty pools, shorter buffet lines, and more. 

Read more: 5 best reasons to stay onboard the ship while in Perfect Day at CocoCay

Additionally, look for chairs away from the pool. Freedom of the Seas, for example, has a ton of lounge chairs overlooking the ship's wake near the FlowRider. 

You could also opt for a later dinner time and enjoy the pools once the majority of passengers return to their cabins to freshen up. 

On my recent Wonder of the Seas cruise, my partner and I decided to eat dinner in the Windjammer and enjoy fewer crowds in the hot tubs, and it made for a memorable night, even if we skipped the theater show. 

A more expensive option would be to rent a casita, though I think private cabanas are a waste of money. I rented one while on Celebrity Ascent last summer and wasn't impressed. 

While the shaded seating area was nice, it was too windy to fully enjoy it. Plus, the "exclusive" food menu wasn't much better than the seafood buffet. 

Casitas on sea days can cost as much as $300 or $400, making them a pricey investment. 

However, if you enjoy exclusive benefits, booking a suite with access to a private sundeck may meet your needs. In addition to the sundeck, cabins within the Royal Suite Class include an exclusive dining room, priority boarding, and more. 

As someone that cruises a lot, I've heard from other cruisers about "secret" cabins on Royal Caribbean ships.

When new ships come out, the layout of the ship sometimes creates unique configurations.  If you're creative enough, they can end up being a really smart idea.

Even though there are lots of suites available to book for a family to share, they can be very expensive and may not have more than one bathroom. If you have teenagers, this is important.

On Anthem of the Seas there's a trio of rooms you could book to hack together to create your own giant space with much more room than any suite.

But there's a catch: This trick won't include any of the suite perks.

Three cabins combined

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Jason Brooks shared this tip on how he recently went on Anthem of the Seas and took full advantage of this "three bedroom suite" idea.

If you look at the deck plans for Anthem of the Seas, there is a trio of rooms that combine together as the layout of the ship curves.

This occurs across decks 6 through 13 with the following grouping of cabin numbers:

• 230
• 232
• 228

• 632
• 630
• 628

Cabins ending in 232, 230 or 632, 630 have a private door that leads to the main door for each cabin. You can close the outside door, providing privacy to go between these two cabins.

The third cabin comes with the room ending in 228 or 628, as it's a standard balcony cabin with a connecting balcony.

If you can book all three rooms together for a sailing, you could get your own three bedroom suite, with space for everyone.

The Junior Suite is the "master bedroom" with 267 square feet of space

If you imagine these trio of cabins as rooms within a bigger suite, I'd imagine this would be the room the parents or leader of the group would take.

Greg Brockman took photos of this cabin on his sailing, showing off what you get.

For cabin 9632, it's a category J1 Junior Suite. Despite the name, it's not a full suite and doesn't have all the amenities of a Grand Suite.

Nonetheless, it's a big room that can handle up to four passengers.

There's a ton of natural light thanks to the double set of windows, one of which is the door to your balcony.

The room has a king size bed that can be combined or split up. There's also a double sofa bed in this room as well.

One thing I love about Quantum Class ships is how much storage space there is.  You certainly won't run out of space to put all your belongings, even on a longer sailing.

Not only does this room share a common private hallway with 9630, but the balcony is the secret sauce to all of this. It's balcony could open up to 9628 (balcony room).

The studio is perfect for kids or a friend

Next door to the Junior Suite is a Studio Interior cabin, and it's small, but perfect for one person.

Ordinarily booking someone in a room by themselves incurs a penalty known as the single supplement fee.  But studio rooms are exempt from this!

Kaitlyn Swing shared photos of cabin 7630, and it gives you a good idea of the space.

This room was meant for one person, so there's enough room for just one person.

It's an inside cabin, which means there's no windows or natural light. However, it does have a virtual balcony.  This means you get a real-time view from outside the ship on a high definition screen that can be turned on or off. There's even a curtain for the "balcony".

The room has its own private bathroom with shower and toilet.

It's the perfect room for an older teen or friend of the family traveling with you.

The connecting balcony room finishes the trio

The Junior Suite and Studio Interior are a good option for some, but if you want a kids room, I'd go one step further with this hack and get the balcony room that combines to that private hallway.

The balcony room has a connecting door that opens up to the hallway the other two cabins share, and it's a neat option for larger families.

Plus, the balcony connects to the Junior Suite's balcony as well.

This is a standard oceanview balcony with 198 square feet of living space, with room for up to two guests.

I'd recommend this be the kids room or the spot for your parents.

Don't book this combo on two decks

While this trio of secret rooms exists on decks six through thirteen, I wouldn't book it on two of the decks.

If you book it on deck six, you'll get an obstructed balcony because of the lifeboats.  

It might save you money by going with deck six, but the view will be ruined and that could be very disappointing.

I also wouldn't book this on deck 13 either.

The issue with the cabins on this deck is because of the extended overhang from the pool deck that makes the balcony feel more like a cave.

Likewise, there is noise bleed that can occur from deck 14 with the Windjammer, pool, and Solarium above you.

Stick to decks 7 through 12 to ensure you're clear of these issues.

There are rules about going on a cruise ship, but a few might be ones you're breaking without knowing it.

Royal Caribbean publishes all of its rules and policies on its website. Most are quite obvious and apply to any form of travel, such as not bringing weapons, chemicals, or starting a fight with someone.

But some things you do on a cruise might seem innocent until you realize it's actually against the rules.

A reader asked me about a particular policy (see the first thing on our list below for what it was), and it got me thinking about the sort of things you might inadvertently do without realizing it's against Royal Caribbean's rules.

To help ensure you're never "that guy", here's a few not-so-obvious rules to avoid breaking.

Obstructing hallways

Royal Caribbean welcomes guests to bring their strollers or wheelchairs with them on a cruise ship, but you cannot park it in the hallway.

According to the cruise line's mobility disabilities policy, you've got to keep them parked in your cabin.

"Assistive devices including mobility scooters must be stored and recharged in your stateroom so fire doors, corridors and elevator lobbies are kept clear for emergency evacuation."

This is an important rule for anyone that has a powered wheelchair they're bringing onboard.  While it might be tempting to keep it parked outside your cabin, it's against the rules.

If you plan to bring a powered wheelchair, I'd recommend booking an accessible cruise ship cabin so that the doorway entrance is wide enough to easily get the chair in and out.

Plus, these cabins offer more space for the wheelchair to maneuver around.

One more thing to remember is when you're out and about on the ship, you need to ensure the wheelchair isn't left blocking a hall.

"When parked throughout the ship, they must be parked out of the way to allow safe and easy access by other guests and crewmembers."

If you want to bring a stroller, I'd recommend buying a collapsible umbrella stroller rather than the fancy one you use at home. Something that collapses and is easy to fly with as it is to cruise with is a good idea, such as this one that folds down to "personal item" size on airplanes. (This has an affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use but I get a small commission)

Being rude to crew members

Not only is being rude socially unacceptable, it's against Royal Caribbean's rules.

I understand you might get frustrated when a series of events doesn't go as you expected, but it's not an excuse to lash out at a crew member.

Royal Caribbean's rule is clear on this, "Verbally abusive or offensive language directed toward anyone, including guests, crew members, governmental officials, or others is not permitted."

Moreover, you're also obliged to follow any instructions given to you by crew members during the course of the cruise.

Ignoring instructions is equally wrong, and could land you in trouble with the ship's security.

Beyond the cruise line's rules, remember that these crew members are living thousands of miles away from their families on a ship and are trying to help you have a great vacation. They didn't make the rules, they're just enforcing them.

Playing your music too loud

A cruise vacation is the perfect excuse to party, but leave the music to the ship's DJ.

You are not allowed to play your own music loudly on the ship, "Boom boxes, loud radios, or other noise nuisance(s) are not permitted."

Royal Caribbean has seemingly started to crack down on this on its private island too.

You're better off bringing headphones rather than a Bluetooth speaker with you.  If you do opt to bring a speaker, I'd only use it off the ship on an excursion and keep the volume low.

If you're renting a cabana on Perfect Day at CocoCay, there are Bluetooth speakers provided to use there.

Leaving your clothes on the balcony

Something I'm sure a lot of people do is leave their stuff on their balcony, but it's actually against the rules.

Whether you leave something out on the balcony or intentionally, it's not permitted because of the risk of it flying away.

"Guests may not leave items unattended on balconies, as the wind may cause items to fall overboard."

The cruise line takes littering in the ocean seriously, and while I doubt most people leaving things on their balcony is intentional to litter, the reality is the wind can really kick up quickly.

Not only do you not want your stuff to end up in the ocean, they don't want it to go there either.

Believe it or not, Royal Caribbean can ban you from their cruise ships for life.

No one really thinks about this kind of a scenario happening to them, but being on vacation isn't carte blanche to do whatever you want. Cruise lines have rules for the safety of everyone, and even bending them could land you in serious trouble.

A Royal Caribbean Blog reader recently shared with me a story of someone that got banned for life, and it was a wakeup call to remind everyone how serious the rules can be.

Here are four notable examples of people getting banned for life by Royal Caribbean.

Jumping for the gram

Probably the most brazen example of someone doing something dumb for the sake of doing something dumb was when a man tried jumping off the ship for the sole purpose of filming it.

The person jumped off of the 11th deck on Symphony of the Seas while docked it was docked in Nassau.

In the video posted, he is shown preparing to jump after climbing over his balcony railing, all the while his friends laughing in the background.

He fell more than 100 feet to the water.

He did it for internet fame, and luckily survived the fall. He later told his followers he was drunk at the time.

However, he and his friends were banned for life on the spot.

Security rescued him from the water, and then he and his friends were immediately escorted off the ship.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean admonished the behavior, "This was stupid and reckless behavior, and he and his companions have been banned from ever sailing with us again."

Standing on the balcony

Another case of poor decision making for the sake of a photo, came with a woman who thought a daring position was a good idea.

The woman was spotted posing in a swimsuit on the edge of her balcony while sailing on Allure of the Seas.

In its Guest Contact Policy, Royal Caribbean specifically notes that "sitting, standing, laying or climbing on, over or across any exterior or interior railings or other protective barriers, or tampering with ship’s equipment, facilities or systems designed for guest safety is not permitted."

Another guest spotted her doing this and quickly alerted the ship's staff. She and her companion were kicked off the ship in the next port of call.

A spokesperson later confirmed that she had been banned for life, "[They] are now banned for life from sailing with Royal Caribbean." 

Cheating in the casino

It's a little less clear what happened, but it appears one passenger has been banned because of suspected cheating in the casino.

Cruise Critic user pdxcam posted a story of how they tried to book another Royal Caribbean cruise, but was later informed all of their sailings have been cancelled because they are no longer welcome onboard.

"They informed me that I am banned from all Royal Caribbean brands permanently without appeal and would not tell me why," is what they posted.

Digging through the thread, it appears their game play in the casino was suspect and is what they believe the issue was.  The person never admitted to cheating in the casino, but can only speculate that must be the reason.

They said by the second day of their final cruise, the casino asked them not to play in the casino at all.

"The order of events was very quick.  On my last cruise, I was asked not to play blackjack on night #1.  Other than being with a friend in 2005, I've never been asked not to play blackjack.  I rarely play it.  Day #2, I'm asked to stop gambling for the rest of the cruise.  I did both things they asked.  One week later, I'm banned for life. "

"It feels like I'm guilty by association from the 2005 incident, and they figured I was cheating because I've been winning a little bit.

Making false reports

Another case of a person being banned and seeking assistance from the internet came after accusing the line of things that may not have happened.

Cruisingcornell posted on our message boards they sailed on Anthem of the Seas and claims to have "found some [bed bug] shells on the couch cushion " and requested a cabin change.

They then claim the crew believed the story was fabricated, "they didn't find anything and at this point called our picture and what we showed the room attendant fake/from another sailing is how they put it."

After the cruise, they got word of their ban, "We received a call ... customer service telling us that we were banned after their security team said we provided a fake picture."

They said their ban lasts at least year, but may not be lifted even after that.

There are serious consequences

If these four stories serve any purpose, it's to realize that Royal Caribbean doesn't mess around with people who break the rules.

Even if there's the perception of something wrong, that could be enough to warrant a lifetime ban.

Bad behavior is inexcusable, and you agree to abide by the cruise line rules the moment you book a cruise. Certainly being inebriated isn't going to get you out of the consequences.

One Royal Caribbean performer lost their job for over 6 months due to a visa disaster. 

Lera, an artistic swimmer from Russia who had worked on Royal Caribbean ships for 6 years, lost a contract when she didn't get her visa renewed in time. 

While working on cruise ships, she had been sharing behind-the-scenes videos of what it's like to be a crew member on her social media, with her YouTube channel amassing nearly 9,000 subscribers. 

These include tiny cabin tours, a crew-only beach in Labadee, and sailing on a repositioning cruise without passengers. 

Last year, she realized her visa was close to expiring, so she went to the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas during a port day. 

"Spoiler alert: This was the worst decision ever," she says in a video shared to her YouTube channel. 

Lera booked an appointment for March 25 and brought all the required documentation, including proof of a new contract offer. 

She claims this interview was different compared to other ones. She was asked questions about whether she was traveling to the U.S. for personal reasons and exactly how many days she planned to be in the country. 

"At the end of the interview, I thought, 'That's it. I'm fine. Everything is good,'" Lera explains. However, she was given a piece of paper and told that her documentation needed to be sent for administrative processing.

She began researching what administrative processing was, learning that it's an extra background check. Still, she never learned why her application was flagged or how long the process would take. 

"Believe me, I am doing everything legally. I'm working with one of the biggest cruise ship companies in the world. I never break any rules," she remarks. 

Unfortunately, her hope quickly faded when she discovered a chat with other foreigners going through similar issues — some had been waiting for years!

"No visa means no contract, no work, no nothing...My whole life is built around my contract"

Reading comments about other people who had been waiting 2 to 3 years consumed her, and Lera started to feel down. Because she didn't have a visa, her next contract was canceled. 

"I was feeling so sad because everybody in my cast started receiving contracts," she says. 

Her husband, Mario, also refused his contract because they didn't want to spend 10 to 11 months without seeing each other. 

While they want to settle down and have a family, she claims it's different when you're choosing to make that decision versus when you're forced to do it. 

The last month of her contract wasn't as happy as expected. Not only was she sailing through Europe, which was a dream, but her parents came on board. 

"I was just so exhausted. I was trying to process everything...My whole life is performing on a cruise ship," she confesses. 

However, she had accepted her fate by the very end, saying that she remembers telling herself to enjoy her last show. 

Once the contract ended, she returned to Russia and spent time with her family, but she spent a lot of time lying in bed and thinking about her next steps. 

With time, she began to feel better, celebrating her 30th birthday:

"I am healthy. I have my husband. I have my family and friends...I will be okay."

After her birthday, she visited Colombia and kept emailing the Embassy

After six months of waiting, she finally received an email instructing her to return to the Bahamas, but not revealing whether she would receive her visa or not. 

Initally, Lera booked an Airbnb for five days. Because of the lengthy process, though, she spent over two weeks in the Bahamas. She couldn't leave because the Embassy had her passport. 

"Honestly, those two weeks [were] the worst," she says. Since she wasn't there on vacation, she was constantly anxious.

She finally received her passport but was disappointed to learn that she had only been granted one visa. Lera didn't get the visa needed to travel to Miami, Florida, for rehearsals. Royal, however, assured her that everything should be fine. 

She got a contract to work aboard Allure of the Seas

Lera was excited to be working aboard Allure of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship that just re-entered service after a $100+ million revitalization. Still, after getting the visa and contract, she felt everything was too good to be true. 

With rehearsals scheduled to begin in late February, she started planning her life around her new contract. Her gut feeling was right, as she received an email saying immigration rules had changed, and she couldn't travel to Florida without a tourist visa. 

Lera claims she's the "most controlling person ever," yet she had no control over her life. 

She felt lucky that Royal wanted to continue working with her

Instead of revoking her contract, Royal agreed to let Lera travel straight to Allure. She was supposed to leave at the end of March ahead of Allure's April 11 voyage, but she needed to obtain a Schengen visa.

This added another complicated layer to her already tight travel timeline, especially since she says that right now isn't the best time for Russian citizens to obtain visas. Because she was still in Colombia, she needed to return to Russia to apply. 

"I don't know who cursed me. Please, can you lift that curse? I cannot handle this anymore," she half-joked.

After applying for the visa, she was stuck in yet another limbo, waiting for the country to return her passport. 

Though they had confirmed her passport had been mailed, they didn't disclose whether she was granted the right visa. Without the Schengen visa, she couldn't work on Allure of the Seas, which is where her husband is working.

In the meantime, she tried to keep herself busy by rehearsing using videos sent to her of the choreography, utilizing her phone and laptop to watch the other casts' movements. 

"I'm trying to keep my head high and hoping that I will get the Schengen visa," Lera says. 

She doesn't end the video on a negative note

With hopeful music playing in the background, Lera opens up a package containing her passport. She's shaking and scared. 

However, she quickly breaks down into tears when she realizes she got the necessary Schengen visa.

"I did not expect to react like that...I'm going to a ship!" she happily remarks. If you're sailing on Allure of the Seas this summer, keep an eye out for Lera, who is ready to return to work on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship! 

A balcony is the most popular cabin on a cruise ship, but you don't want to pay for one if it's going to disappoint you.

The last thing you probably want is to wake up each morning looking at a lifeboat, or be kept awake each night by music.

Most people imagine their balcony room will have unfettered views of the ocean and be a private retreat to enjoy every day.

The reality is not all balcony cabins are created equal, and you could end up with a balcony room that's disappointing.

When I booked a Junior Suite on Freedom of the Seas, I was disappointed when I got onboard the ship to see cleaning equipment blocking my view.

I thought my balcony would be a great choice, but I didn't pay close enough attention to the partial obstruction note.

The top balcony cabin letdowns

There are three kinds of balcony cabins I'd think twice before booking.

An obstructed balcony is the first kind that almost always results in a letdown.  This is defined as a balcony that has some structure blocking the view.

It could be because of lifeboats, equipment, or partial overhangs.

Royal Caribbean's deck plans should indicate if a balcony is obstructed, and at what percentage.  You should refer to the deck plans before choosing a cabin. Or see if there's a YouTube cabin video for your specific room.

Another kind of bad balcony cabin is a noisy balcony.

Cabins under the pool deck, nightclub, Windjammer, or near the AquaTheater can all get pretty loud at certain times of the day.

This is more problematic for light sleepers, or anyone that prefers to go to bed early or sleep late. Unexpected sounds emanating from outside the cabin at odd hours can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule.

On one cruise I stayed in a balcony cabin near the Centrum on Jewel of the Seas and the music kept us awake every night.

How loud a cabin is won't show up on deck plans, but I'd recommend always booking a cabin that is located one deck above and below other cabins.

The further away the room is from public spaces, the less likely noise bleed will be an issue as well.

Lastly, some balcony rooms have a lack of privacy that can be alarming.

Neighborhood balconies are cabins that face inwards towards the ship, rather than out to the ocean. Examples include Boardwalk, Surfside, or Central Park balconies.

The issue is people walking by the room or passengers in cabins opposite your room can see directly into your cabin if the curtains aren't drawn.

The good news is these rooms are great for people watching, but not so much for private lounging.

People often book these cabins because of one choice

If you're thinking how could someone be so naive to book those balcony rooms, the reality is they probably booked them indirectly.

Royal Caribbean offers customers a money-saving option by letting the cruise line pick their cabin assignment with a guarantee room.

You could save hundreds of dollars by going with a guarantee cabin assignment, but it's a gamble as to which room you'll get.

Quite often guarantee rooms default to the leftover rooms others didn't pick.

The same holds true for bidding for a stateroom upgrade.

The entire premise of RoyalUp is to allow passengers to pay less to move up to unsold rooms or ones that got cancelled at the last minute.

There's nothing wrong with saving money and getting a great deal on a better cruise room upgrade.  Just understand you might end up in one of these rooms.

Know the differences before booking these "balconies"

There are three more types of rooms that are variations on a traditional balcony that I'd caution you to fully understand why they aren't what you might expect.

None of these cabins should be avoided, per se. Instead, I'd recommend fully comprehending what these rooms are all about before you book.

One of the cheapest rooms you can book is a virtual balcony, where you have a floor-to-ceiling high-definition screen showing live views from outside your room.

I'd argue virtual balcony rooms aren't a replacement for a regular balcony. Rather, they're upgrades from a regular inside room.

A new type of balcony introduced on the Icon Class ships is an infinite balcony.

The idea is the balcony space is convertible, with a sliding glass window that opens up to provide a breeze and view.

In reality, the infinite balcony is more like a room with a window than a room with a true balcony that you can step onto and peer around.

Families tend to like these rooms more because it provides more living space, especially with young children.

Lastly, if you aren't booking both sides of a connecting balcony room, I'd skip them.

I love connecting balcony rooms as a money saving hack for my family, but the common door between the rooms is not very good for abating noise, and that can be a problem if you don't know the people on the other side of the door.

The best Royal Caribbean balcony cabins to look for instead

Now that you know which balcony cabins aren't so great, here are the types of balcony rooms I'd book instead.

People that cruise a lot swear by aft-facing balcony rooms, which are balconies on the back of the ship.

They're usually larger and have incredible wake views.  They're definitely better on Royal Caribbean's older ships, like Vision or Radiance Class vessels.

Another good idea is to book a balcony cabin mid-ship, instead of one at the very front of the ship. This location tends to be the most stable and offer the least sensation of movement.

A lot of first time cruisers want to avoid getting seasick at any cost, so picking a room in the middle is best for this.

One other kind of balcony cabin to look for when you're reviewing deck plans are cabins with angled balconies.

Some corner rooms have more space without extra cost and can be a great choice.

When it's actually better to book an inside room instead of a balcony

There's another kind of balcony disappointment that can occur, and it has nothing to do with your room location.

If you book a cruise on one of the biggest ships, or perhaps a very port intensive itinerary, you're barely going to be in your room because of all the fun things to do outside of it.

I've often heard from readers who liked their balcony room, but lamented how little time they spent inside of it.

And of course there's buyer's regret, when you pay inflated prices due to demand for a balcony room.

Spending extra money on cabin amenities you won't really take advantage of can be a compelling reason to book a cheaper inside room instead.

Research your room to avoid days of regret

It's pretty easy to book the right balcony for your family if you spend a little bit of time researching the right option.

Booking the right balcony adds serious value to your cruise, and can be a wonderful space to enjoy every day.

Ultimately, you want your balcony to be a highlight, not a headache.  Now that you have the right information, you should be able to get the perfect one on your next cruise.

Indulging in delicious food is often one of the highlights of cruising. From homemade pastries to delectable three course meals each evening, it seems like there is never ending food on a cruise! 

Now, it looks like Royal Caribbean is serving a new breakfast food that is quickly becoming a favorite among cruisers. One cruiser posted on Reddit recently about the cruise line’s new homemade cinnamon rolls, stating the pastry has potential to become “a new cult favorite” on Royal Caribbean.

As a cinnamon roll connoisseur myself, I couldn’t wait to see if my cruise would be serving up the newest pastry. Our family can’t resist a good cinnamon roll, and, not to boast, but I make a pretty fantastic homemade cinnamon roll myself! 

I’m currently sailing on Anthem of the Seas on a repositioning cruise from Singapore to Tokyo, and I was thrilled to see the new cinnamon rolls being served our first morning onboard. My mom and I grabbed one of the cinnamon rolls to try with our morning coffee, as they looked promising and appeared similar to pictures circulating online. 

After one bite, we could tell these cinnamon rolls were unlike any pastry we had tried on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Someone needed to do the hard and important work of reviewing these new cinnamon rolls for the site, and I was happy to volunteer! As a lifelong cinnamon roll enthusiast and baker, I’m here to provide you with an in-depth review of Royal Caribbean’s newest pastry, and whether it's worth the hype. 

For starters, the cinnamon rolls seem to be available everywhere breakfast is served.

Because Anthem of the Seas is a Quantum class ship, there are multiple places to dine for breakfast. In addition to the Windjammer buffet, you can find other cafes and eateries serving breakfast onboard. During my first few days on the ship, I was thrilled to find the new cinnamon rolls being served throughout the ship. 

On our first morning, we found the cinnamon rolls being served in Cafe Promenade. The following morning, the rolls were also available in the Windjammer Cafe for breakfast, served alongside other pastries and muffins. The pastry attendant even offered to warm up the cinnamon roll for us, which was a nice touch! 

Today, we ordered a few of the rolls from Cafe 270 to have with breakfast, though these seemed smaller than the other ones we’ve had.

In addition, some Redditors report the cinnamon rolls are available through room service with continental breakfast. Continental breakfast is complimentary on Royal Caribbean cruises and includes an option to order pastries. I'll be testing this theory later in the cruise, as I love receiving breakfast to my cabin with room service!

In the Reddit thread, other cruisers have also shared the cinnamon rolls are available in Park Cafe and Solarium Bistro on Oasis class ships, along with the Pearl Cafe on Icon class ships. One responder shared they were able to get the cinnamon roll warmed up at Pearl Cafe.

The cinnamon rolls seem to be popular aboard our sailing. Every time I’ve waited in line to order one, there are a few others looking to do the same. But, I've never had an issue ordering one, so they seem to be stocked!

Royal Caribbean’s new cinnamon rolls are modestly sized and lightly frosted, but they’re not overly sweet.

I'll be honest, I was skeptical if the new cinnamon rolls would live up to the buzz they're receiving online. I love a big, gooey and sweet cinnamon roll - so the bar was high. But, after taking one bite, our family was genuinely impressed with the new recipe. The dough tastes homemade, and one crew member confirmed the rolls are baked fresh each morning onboard. 

In my amateur baking experience, homemade dough can be a little dense, and that holds true here. Royal Caribbean’s cinnamon rolls are more dense rather than light and fluffy. But, this isn’t a bad thing. We prefer the denser texture - and the bread still tastes soft and fresh.

In our opinion, the filling leans heavily into the cinnamon flavor. It tastes like the cinnamon is blended with sugar or brown sugar rather than butter, giving it a bold, sweet kick. Each roll is generously swirled, and after just one bite, you can see the rich, dark cinnamon ribbon running through the layers.

Now, the best part… the frosting! I prefer my cinnamon rolls to drown in overly-sweet, melty frosting. I typically make my cinnamon roll frosting with butter, vanilla, milk and powdered sugar for a sweet finish. 

However, Royal Caribbean’s new cinnamon rolls are finished with a light layer of cream cheese frosting. There might be a touch of lemon in the frosting too, making it a little tangy. Personally, I wouldn’t complain if there was more frosting; after all, I don’t think you can never have too much frosting on a cinnamon roll.

That said, Royal Caribbean’s new cinnamon rolls seem sufficiently frosted without being over-the-top. There is also a small dusting of powdered sugar to add a hint of sweetness. The sweet frosting perfectly complements the bold cinnamon filling and yeasty, homemade dough.

The hype is real — the cinnamon rolls are drool-worthy.

After sampling a few cinnamon rolls during the first few days of my cruise, I can confirm the newest pastry is worth the hype! Our entire family agreed the new cinnamon rolls are a huge upgrade from the cruise line’s earlier attempt at cinnamon rolls.

Prior to this new recipe, the cinnamon rolls left a lot to be desired — they were bland, dry and noticeably lacked in flavor. The pastry was lightly glazed at best and hardly resembled a real cinnamon roll. They didn’t taste freshly made, and in all honesty, I’ve yet to come across anyone who actually enjoyed them.

Now, it’s pretty apparent the cinnamon rolls are freshly made each day onboard. Many commenters on Reddit stated the rolls tasted like they were from a bakery, and I agree wholeheartedly!

One commenter shared, “[The cinnamon rolls] were in Windjammer and Pearl Cafe as well, when I was on Icon [of the Seas]. Pearl Cafe even heated them up for me when asked. Very good cinnamon roll!”

Another user shared, “I ordered the continental breakfast and checked (assorted pastry) and this arrived! I was pleasantly surprised. Icing isn’t too sweet, and good ratio of icing to roll. Thanks for the tip on where to find them!”

“Yeah I ordered a pastry plate for room service breakfast on the Wonder last week and confirm it was really good,” stated another cruiser.

One cruiser commented similarly, “I had one at the Windjammer on Odyssey [of the Seas] on Sunday just before departing the ship. It was very tasty!”

“Yeah, I was impressed too! The danishes were pretty good too. Everything else was basic but ok,” said another commenter.

I agree with the hype these cinnamon rolls are receiving - and I can see how they will become a favorite onboard. Honestly, they’re on par with what you’d expect from a local bakery or even homemade straight from the oven. If you’re cruising with Royal Caribbean soon, be sure to try one of these cinnamon rolls for yourself!

Royal Caribbean is pausing visits to its private destination of Labadee, Haiti due to violence and lawlessness in the country.

An upsurge in gang violence has prompted Royal Caribbean to change scheduled visits, the second time there's been a major pause in visits since last year.

In April 2025, ships began getting re-routed to bypass Labadee and visit other ports instead.

"We have been monitoring the evolving situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. While Labadee remains a safe destination to visit, and outside of the areas of concern, we’re swapping out our visit," is what the cruise line told passengers who were booked on a ship scheduled to go there.

Royal Caribbean made similar changes between March and October 2024 when gang violence first became a major issue there. The violence gained worldwide attention because of the tenacity and widespread nature of it.

Labadee is the name of a beach area reserved exclusively for the use of Royal Caribbean ships and its passengers on a peninsula in northern Haiti.  It's walled off from the rest of the country and Royal Caribbean employs a private security force there.

Royal Caribbean has leased the 260-acre site since the 1980s, and it's 130 miles north of Port-au-Prince (about a six-and-a-half-hour drive) and has not been impacted by other periods of unrest in the country.

For a few months in 2024, Royal Caribbean cancelled visits to Labadee "in an abundance of caution", but resumed visits later that year.

Prioritizing the safety of its guests and crew members is why Royal Caribbean made the decision, as it does in any part of the world which faces geopolitical issues.

As the summer 2025 cruise season approaches, many are wondering what is happening with scheduled visits to Labadee and what are the chances it will still occur.

Visits starting to cancel

While Royal Caribbean hasn't made an official announcement yet as to what its future plans are for Labadee, at least four Royal Caribbean ships have had scheduled visits changed.

"Your safety is our top priority," is what Royal Caribbean wrote to guests about making these changes.

There is no set timeframe when a stop can be cancelled by, as the change could occur right up to the day the ship is scheduled to visit. We've seen emails go out much sooner than that, but it's important to note itineraries can change at any time.

There have been no safety issues reported or incidents at or near Labadee.

Why Royal Caribbean is pausing visits to Haiti

While there has been no reported incidents of violence in Labadee, an abundance of caution seems to be the primary factor in cancelling calls to Labadee.

Royal Caribbean has a team at headquarters that monitors incidents that could impact their cruise ships.  From severe weather, to political situations, to economic factors, these are all taken into consideration when it comes to the safety of its guests, crew, and ships.

Where are cruise ships are going instead of Labadee?

With Royal Caribbean ships getting re-routed away from Haiti, alternative ports of call are the first choice in trying to update an itinerary.

Depending on which ports are available for a last-minute itinerary change, Royal Caribbean has slipped them in accordingly.

So far, ships have been re-routed to Nassau, Bahamas and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Legally, there is no obligation or requirement for the cruise line to replace the scheduled port visit with another port. 

You're ready for a great day at the beach in warm tropical waters with the sun shining, but the Captain announces a change in the itinerary for your cruise ship. Who makes that call?

Craig Setzer is Royal Caribbean’s Chief Meteorologist, and it's his job to monitor weather developments around the world to make sure cruise ships are never in danger.

When he was hired, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty gave Mr. Setzer his marching orders when he told him, "I'm concerned about port weather events. Something that happens to us when we're in or near port that's sudden, a surprise, unexpected and not well forecast."

Since then, Mr. Setzer has been working every day to ensure bad weather doesn't compromise the safety of Royal Caribbean's planned sailings.

"From a weather perspective, safety is a given and it always comes first," he said during a seminar held at Seatrade Global conference earlier this month.

Of course, ensuring passengers enjoy their vacation is also important, "Guest comfort and guest experience are second on the list, right after safety."

What happens when bad weather threatens a port

When there's bad weather at sea, cruise ships can deviate.  But in port it's a different story.

"When you're in the open ocean, it's more about the wave heights or sudden wind events, " Mr. Setzer explained.

"In port, you don’t have room to deviate… there’s higher sensitivity to weather events like sudden wind gust."

There are risks to ships and the people on them while in port if bad weather strikes suddenly. Lines can break, ships can accidently veer off course and end up grounding or allision.

To determine if a change to your port stop is needed, Mr. Setzer relies on a three step approach: detect, notify, act.

"We have to know that something is coming that wasn't expected," he explained. Looking at weather models and tracking storms is part of that.

The second step is if he sees something concerning, to alert the ship and crew immediately.

The final step is to act and let the people at Royal Caribbean's marine division make a decision on a change.

He said his job is primarily detection, and he's thankful he's not the one making the call on a reroute, "I’m more on the detection part. We’re working together to create a notification part."

Hurricane season and big decisions

Forecasters recently called for an "above normal" hurricane season this year, but that doesn't change how he views his prep for what to expect.

"Even in low years like 1992, South Florida got Andrew. In high years like 2022, we didn’t get anything. So you never know."

Royal Caribbean never takes the threat of a hurricane lightly, "from a marine perspective, we prepare every year with the possibility we could have an impact. We don't say this year it's a low number, so we're going to relax now."

Craig spent 25 years in South Florida, and 22 of those years was spent as a TV weatherman in Miami. That experience from decades in Miami makes him a step ahead.

"I  tend to anticipate the weather more than the models… even before a hurricane advisory comes out, I’m thinking: Where are my ships going to go to stay safe?"

Last year, he participated in a preparedness test with key members across Royal Caribbean. The cruise line runs multiple hurricane exercises per year to get everyone ready for the season. 

In one example, a simulation had a storm that rapidly intensifies as it approaches South Florida. It began developing within 3 days of reaching Miami, putting everyone behind the planning curve from the beginning.

"This scenario is entirely possible and has happened before in history. Most folks think we will have days and days to watch and prepare."

How Royal Caribbean uses AI and radar to outsmart the weather

Royal Caribbean is blending artificial intelligence with weather radar to improve storm detection and cruise safety.

Royal Caribbean partnered with Meteopress to purchase a new radar system for the cruise line's Perfect Day at CocoCay private island in The Bahamas.

This isn't a run-of-the-mill radar station. It incorporates AI tools will forecast the weather to better detect port weather issues well before they hit.

It uses AI and machine learning to determine where traditional weather models have biases, and then corrects for those biases.

The weather radar is so powerful that it can reach up to 300 miles away, which will include Miami.

According to Mr. Setzer, all of this allows meteorologists to better anticipate weather events in terms of time instead of distance. It's a tool for Royal Caribbean to leverage.

Mr. Setzer's role blends science, instinct, and guest care in every voyage. By virtue of the fact Royal Caribbean employs a meteorologist, it provides a hidden value that guests may not be aware of, but is constantly watching for any potential issues.