Two Royal Caribbean ships had to have a passenger evacuated off the cruise ship for medical reasons.
The US Coast Guard rescued a man experiencing severe abdominal pain from Grandeur of the Seas shortly after the ship began a cruise.
Grandeur of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's oldest cruise ship, and she had departed from Fort Lauderdale to make her way to the Southern Caribbean for a 9-night voyage.
The US Coast Guard Southeast was called in when the 2,440 passenger cruise ship was 40 miles off shore, southeast of Miami.
#Breaking A @USCG Air Station #Miami rescue crew medevaced a 56-year-old male from a cruise ship, 40 miles southeast of Miami, Sat.
The aircrew transported the individual, who suffered severe abdominal pain to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition. #SARpic.twitter.com/vhey8HT4hm
#Breaking A @USCG Air Station #Miami rescue crew medevaced a 56-year-old male from a cruise ship, 40 miles southeast of Miami, Sat.
The aircrew transported the individual, who suffered severe abdominal pain to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition. #SARpic.twitter.com/vhey8HT4hm
A post on X/Twitter showed the rescue efforts after the man was airlifted off the ship.
While medical emergencies may be the last thing cruise-goers want to consider when planning their vacations, the video offers a glimpse into the emergency rescue procedures followed during life-or-death emergencies at sea.
According to the Coast Guard, the man was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami in stable condition.
Grandeur of the Seas then resumed her sailing, heading to Labadee, Haiti.
Another rescue on Radiance of the Seas
On the same day, another Coast Guard unit was requested for assistance on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas.
Radiance was sailing from Tampa, Florida and had also just begun a cruise. Radiance is sailing a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise.
The Coast Guard was alerted when the 2,466 passenger ship was 13 miles west of Anna Maria Island.
The reported issue involved taking a female passenger off the ship, accompanied by her mother & father.
This time, a Coast Guard vessel was dispatched instead of a helicopter.
In a tweet, the Coast Guard said, "The female required higher level care and was transferred to awaiting EMS at Station Cortez."
Following the evacuation, the Royal Caribbean ship resumed her sailing towards the Western Caribbean.
Medical evacuations happen more often than you think
Posts from the US Coast Guard highlight the important work they do in cases of emergencies, and it's a good reminder that health issues can arise anywhere.
Passengers could be taken from a ship for a host of medical issues, such as symptoms of strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, progressive acute illness, respiratory failure, pneumonia, and septic shock.
Cruise ships are equipped with basic facilities to triage any health issues they encounter until such a time the passenger can be taken off the ship to a full medical facility.
Cruise ship medical centers are probably bigger than you might think, but their function is to offer necessary treatments and if a patient has a more serious condition, get them off the ship so they can receive the full range of treatments they require.
All cruise ships have standards set by the American College of Emergency Physicians in how patients are treated onboard, as well as experience levels, certifications, and skills of the doctors and clinical staff onboard.
This pair of medevacs are a good reminder how important travel insurance is for anyone going on a cruise.
Most travel insurance plans include some level of Medical Evacuation & Repatriation coverage.
While the Coast Guard conducted these rescues, sometimes it can be done using an air ambulance, a commercial airline, or other ground transportation vehicles fitted with medical equipment.
According to the CDC, a medical air evacuation can cost between $25,000 to more than $250,000.
Remember, most primary health insurance plans, such as Medicare or an employer sponsored plan, do not provide coverage outside the United States.
Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, recommends someone going on a cruise ship have a travel insurance plan that has at least $250,000 in emergency Medical Evacuation coverage.
Despite having been on 13 Royal Caribbean cruises, I didn’t try the Chef’s Table until my recent sailing on Allure of the Seas.
The Chef’s Table is the ultimate specialty restaurant for foodies. The 6-course meal includes a wine pairing and serves up delicious cuisine that puts the Main Dining Room to shame.
It’s usually pretty expensive, costing around $100 per person. However, my dad and I found a great Black Friday Deal on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner ahead of our last-minute voyage on Allure.
The meal was $165.16 with gratuities, but we applied our $50 onboard credit to lower the price even more. The total per person ended up being $57.58 each!
Part of the appeal of the Chef’s Table is that it is more than just a meal. The experience lasts over two hours and lets you mingle with fellow passengers in an intimate setting.
Our evening began in the Library on Deck 11. Our host, Alan, greeted us with champagne while we waited for the other parties to arrive. One couple was late, so rather than holding us hostage in the Library, Alan escorted the arrived parties through the Crown Lounge to a private dining area on Deck 12.
The table was elegantly set with charger plates and beautiful glassware for the wine pairings. The ambiance was sophisticated yet comfortable. There wasn’t a white tablecloth, and the quirky chandelier was made entirely of cutlery—forks, knives, and spoons.
To kick things off, Alan presented each person with drool-worthy bread that he argued was the best bread onboard, beating out 150 Central Park.
Melted truffle oil butter perfectly accompanied the thyme and lemon bread loaf. Each bite had a burst of flavor, with the herbaceous thyme balancing out the truffle's richness. It had the right hint of saltiness, too. Although I didn’t sample every type of bread on Allure of the Seas, I’d be shocked if anything else on the ship surpassed it.
Then it was time for the real fun as we moved into the actual courses. The first was scallop carpaccio. The thinly sliced scallops were marinated for 24 hours before being served and plated with a delicate yuzu vinaigrette made with honey mustard and ginger.
The vinaigrette stood out the most. The scallops were a little bland, but when paired with the vinaigrette, the flavor of the otherwise mild scallops came out, and I thought the light, citrusy notes of the Pinot Grigio from Italy complemented the freshness of the scallops.
The second course was one of my favorites. The roasted tomato soup had a smokey depth and was velvety smooth. Topped with a drizzle of crème fraîche, I wish I could have asked for a second bowl! In fact, one of our tablemates begged the chef for the recipe.
The crispy garlic focaccia "croutons" were more like a side of bread than a traditional crouton. Still, it was perfect for dipping into the rich soup, and I appreciated how they weren't left in the liquid to get soggy. Paired with the soup was a California four-blend wine, which had notes of vanilla and pineapple to help offset the smokiness of the tomatoes.
The Maine lobster salad fell short of my expectations. Though the fresh, sweet flavors of the wine-poached lobster were on full display, I didn't love the combination of vanilla dressing and hearts of palm.
That said, I loved enhancing the flavor of the lobster with the provided pesto and citrus sauces. Additionally, Sauvignon Blanc isn't my favorite wine, but I could see why the more earthy wine was chosen to pair with the lobster.
Wanting to try something new, I approached the branzino with an open mind. While I am a seafood lover, I stray away from fish in favor of shrimp, calamari, scallops, and lobster.
However, as someone who doesn't eat fish, I thought the skin easily peeled away to reveal moist and flaky meat. Still, though, I couldn't get past the distinct flavor of the branzino, which was too "fishy" for my taste buds.
If I had to pick two courses to eat on repeat, they'd be the roasted tomato soup and filet mignon. The filet was cooked to a perfect medium, served with creamy truffle potato purée, and drizzled with a rich bordelaise sauce.
I'm not a fan of red wine, so while I tried the Cabernet Sauvignon, I only took a sip. I much prefer light and refreshing white wines to full-bodied reds.
The dessert reminded me of The World served at Wonderland. It's a chocolate lover's heaven, with layers of rich chocolate mousse, silky ganache, and salted caramel ice cream encased in a dark chocolate shell.
The ice cream added a salty contrast to the otherwise chocolate-heavy dessert and paired perfectly with the salted caramel espresso martini. I don't think anyone at the table was disappointed with the dessert.
The Chef's Table isn't cheap; however, if you're a foodie looking for an unforgettable culinary adventure, it's worth every penny, especially considering the price includes a wine paring.
The intimate, multi-course dining experience is about more than food; it's also about the artist and craftsmanship behind each dish, with the chef personally guiding you through the process and explaining the work that went into each course.
No matter how much you cruise, there's always a chance you could get seasick on a cruise.
I would tell anyone who has never cruised before not to avoid cruising out of fear of getting seasick, because it's an easily treatable issue. Plus, in the grand scheme of my cruising career, it's been quite rare.
However, winter weather in the tropics has churned up the seas lately and that's resulted in two sailings in a row where I've felt a little seasick.
I recently sailed on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas. The first cruise went to Mexico and the second to The Bahamas, but gusty winds were enough to add some "motion to the ocean" and it set off my stomach.
While hurricane season ended on November 30, that doesn't mean there can't be storms or just strong winds with a front.
When we boarded Utopia of the Seas, there was a video playing in all the cabins explaining the strong winds we expected to encounter, as described by Royal Caribbean's Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer.
Sometimes you get a good warning of what's to come, and other times it's more a surprise, like on Serenade when it was calm for the entire cruise, except when we were traveling near Cancun.
Nonetheless, I'll adopt a few strategies for my future cruises to avoid seasickness.
Myth: you don't feel as much movement on larger ships
You might think the biggest cruise ships in the world are immune to being jostled by the wind, but that's definitely not the case.
Some people prefer to sail on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class or Icon Class ships because they heard the big ships don't move as much.
Being on a bigger ship might have a minimal effect with a casual breeze, but when there are rough seas, any ship can encounter movement.
It's incredible how big Utopia of the Seas is, but that consistent rocking happened onboard too.
Find a spot low and center on the ship
When you start to notice the ship moving a lot, especially when you start swaying a bit as you walk, I think it's a good idea to find a place to minimize the feeling.
The best spot to feel the least movement is somewhere on a low deck and center on the ship.
There's no doubt it feels worse when you're all the way at the front or back of the ship, especially on a higher deck.
My wife might think this is an excuse to spend more time in the casino, but the ship's casino is almost always around deck 4, and right in the middle.
To really help, you should also find a spot where you can see the horizon. While your ship might be moving, the horizon is a fixed position and focusing on it can help re-adjust your mind.
Many Royal Caribbean ships have an outdoor walking promenade deck that have chairs facing the ocean. This is a great location for focusing on the horizon.
Stop drinking alcohol
This is easier said than done, but you want to stop anything that might be dehydrating you.
Getting more dehydrated can be a trigger for seasickness, and alcohol is definitely one of those things.
Instead, switch to a carbonated beverage. Ginger ale is best because it combines carbonation and ginger, both of which are good to settle a stomach. But a Coke works well too.
Try a natural remedy
Every body reacts differently to getting a little queasy, so I like to start off with a homeopathic approach first.
The most common treatments before you take any medicine are to eat ginger, green apples, or peppermint.
Head to the Windjammer and see if you can find green apples, peppermint tea, or even a lemon.
I might try bringing ginger chews with me to make it more convenient and because I don't love ginger ale.
The other thing that works is sleeping. Taking a nap is one of my favorite cruise activities to begin with, but sleeping off the nausea effects has worked well for me in the past.
If nothing else, you might sleep through the worst of the winds and wake up to calmer seas.
Take a medication
When I was on Serenade of the Seas and started feeling off, I ultimately relied on medication to help ease the effects of being seasick.
The most popular medication is Dramamine, and I always pack Bonine.
There are other medications you could take, such as getting a prescription before the cruise from your doctor for scopolamine, which is a patch behind your ear that you wear throughout the cruise. Benadryl also works for some people.
There are side effects to medications, so be sure to do your research. Also, it's ideal anyone taking meds to start the regiment before the cruise begins.
Be sure to bring your own medications with you, because the ship may or may not offer them onboard. And even if they do, I'm betting it's going to be cheaper at home.
Don't avoid a cruise because of seasickness
No matter how many times I've gotten seasick, I think it's a low risk and not a reason to not go on a cruise.
Many people go on dozens of cruises without getting sick. In fact, I don't think I got seasick on any of my cruises earlier this year, many of which that went through hurricane season.
If you find yourself feeling motion sick onboard, there are numerous ways to quickly alleviate the discomfort. By being prepared with some of the tips mentioned earlier, you can ensure you're ready to fully enjoy your cruise experience.
One of the most popular cruise ports in the world is also one of the worst rated among cruise passengers, but Royal Caribbean has a plan.
If you think of a warm tropic cruise getaway, The Bahamas is probably what you imagine, and yet cruiser surveys rank it as among the worst places they visit.
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley revealed last year that passengers don't love Nassau, Bahamas.
"Nassau is in the bottom ten percent,” he said.
Given Nassau's proximity to the United States, you might assume there's not much that can be done about it, as alternatives aren't plenty within a logistical distance.
But Royal Caribbean wants to fix the issues its customers have with the port with a brand new idea that's never been attempted.
Building a better beach day
According to Royal Caribbean's surveys, cruisers found Nassau lacking fresh or innovative things to do. That seemed to be at the heart of the frustration.
Royal Caribbean's plan is to try something completely different that will deliver the high standards the line has already developed on its ships and at its private islands.
New details were revealed this week to showcase the scale of its 17-acre development that is right in the heart of Nassau.
Royal Caribbean bought up land right where cruise ships dock, and that's no accident. They wanted to give the very best product in an extremely convenient location.
Opening in December 2025, the beach club will charge an admission cost for a super-charged Royal Caribbean excursion.
Available exclusively to Royal Caribbean cruisers, there will be multiple beaches and pools, with different vibes for each area. The three zones - Family Beach, Chill Beach, Party Zone- ensures there is something for everyone.
And because it's all-inclusive, there's nothing to worry about once you arrive. Relax, enjoy food and drink, and get the kind of tropical experience vacationers crave.
What you can do at the Royal Beach Club
Royal Caribbean shared what the property will offer, and it's a mix of beach, pool, and experience.
There's two beaches, three pools, the world's largest swim-up bar, cabanas, and places to get something eat.
At the west end is the Family Zone, where you'll find The Shallow End Pool and Swim-up bar.
This is a zero-entry pool where everyone can walk in and swim, along with the choice to stop by the swim-up bar. This bar has both cocktails and mocktails, so it's great for parents or kids.
There's also beach bars and the Paradise Grill to keep you replenished while enjoying time at the white sand beach.
In the middle is party zone, which has the hard-to-miss Floating Flamingo pool.
The name stands out as much as the venue, which is a two-story swim-up bar that has a DJ to play music all day long.
Royal Caribbean is also offering an extra cost area, known as Party Cove VIP. It's meant to be a celebration spot, where you can have your own exclusive space with elevated service.
Finally, there's Chill Zone on the eastern end of the property, and it's going to be the quiet(er) area of the beach club.
The Deep End pool also has a swim-up bar that serves mocktails and cocktails, and it's right up against the ocean.
Combining ship and shore
None of Royal Caribbean's plans operate in a vacuum, and when you look at the big picture, it becomes apparent they're moving ships and beaches around like a chess board that's close to end game.
When Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens in December 2025, the cruise line's four best cruise ships will be ready to visit.
If short cruises aren't your thing, Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas have 7-night sailings to take you there too. And that's the two biggest cruise ships in the world that have made headlines on their own for redefining what a cruise vacation is all about.
Basically, Royal Caribbean wants to grab the attention of anyone thinking about taking a cruise vacation (especially people that have never cruised before) and show them there's no question Royal Caribbean has the best options from any cruise line in the world.
It's bold, creative, and novel, and aims to not only solve the puzzle of Nassau, but also set the bar higher for vacations.
The cruise industry had a rough go of it in 2020, but one great change that came out of it was a revamped and substantially better safety drill experience.
All cruise ship passengers are required by maritime law to understand what to do in the case of an emergency, similar to airline passengers that get a safety drill before takeoff.
Known as the muster drill, the process remained the same for decades where passengers stopped what they were doing, lined up outdoors in a single file line, and waited to hear instructions read over a bullhorn or public address system.
Royal Caribbean knew this was not a great way to convey important safety information and that its guests lamented the entire process for how cumbersome and disruptive it was.
In 2021 when cruise ships restarted cruising, a virtual muster drill was implemented for the first time. It was a concept devised before the industry shutdown, but turned out to be the perfect way way to get safety information while social distancing.
Fast-forward a few years later, and it remains one of the best innovations within the cruise industry. In fact, Royal Caribbean openly shared the patented process with any cruise line that wanted it.
"It's the easiest process in cruising," wrote Clbengel on Reddit.
"You'll watch a few videos and listen to a sound of the emergency horn on the Royal app. Then once you board, just go to your designated muster station and they'll scan you in as having completed it. You're good to go and officially start your cruise."
Reinventing the muster drill
If you go on a cruise today, every passenger is obliged to know what to do and where to go in an emergency.
Instead of standing around to hear someone tell you, Royal Caribbean wanted a better way.
Traditionally, in the context of a passenger cruise ship, a muster drill is performed at the beginning of the cruise before the cruise ship departs or shortly thereafter. During the muster drill, each individual passenger reports to an assigned muster station—a specific location on the vessel. A crew member then confirms the presence of each passenger expected to be present at the specific location during the muster drill so that all passengers may be accounted for in the event of an actual emergency and a resultant actual muster.
Further, the old muster drill was confusing for some—particularly the elderly and children—both of whom often require additional assistance locating and moving towards assigned muster stations.
For crew members, trying to perform the drill with thousands of guests may create unnecessary confusion or missed opportunities to educate and inform, in light of the ultimate goal.
A group at Royal Caribbean worked on a new idea to get passengers critical information without disrupting everyone's day at the same time.
A digital approach was conceived, and its not only made it easier to give cruisers the information they needed, but it also allowed it to be done individually and monitored.
The change was widely heralded by passengers who loved the change because of how much easier the process became.
Not only that, more passengers were participating than ever before.
Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President of Marine Operations Greg Purdy shared Royal Caribbean has "extremely high percentage rates for guest participation", which is in part due to training of the crew members to facilitate it, as well as plenty of reminder announcements."
Mr. Purdy went on to say participation rates are higher with eMuster than the old way, "we're fairly aggressive about ensuring that you complete the safety drill prior to sailing. "
"That's actually better than the old traditional drill."
Most importantly, guests get the important information while making the process easier overall, "This has been a real win for the guest and a win for those of our crew that are charged with with safety responsibilities in an emergency."
Other cruise lines followed Royal Caribbean's lead, and while their implementation may vary slightly, the general flow is the same.
One cruise line stubbornly refuses to change
Most cruise lines adopted eMuster, but one mainstream cruise line stubbornly have not and it's baffling why not.
Disney Cruise Line initially made the switch to eMuster, but then quickly reverted in November 2022 back to the in-person safety muster drill.
An email to travel agents said, "We regularly review our processes and have made the decision to reintroduce the in-person assembly drills. All Guests will be required to report to their assigned assembly station in person at the scheduled time on embarkation day."
Even after all these years, they are the notable holdout.
Armstrong2Cernan wrote on Reddit how tiresome the old way is, "Crew members with bullhorns and clip boards calling out for a few passengers who felt they were too important to attend. Kids getting tired and cranky, all still standing chest to back, parents holding smaller children, switching them off to their spouse as they got tired. Waiting, waiting, waiting until finally they bark out a few instructions that you would do if there were an actual emergency. So. Very. Tiring."
With Royal Caribbean's largest ship able to accommodate nearly 10,000 passengers and crew, have you ever wondered how there's always enough water for everyone onboard?
Icon of the Seas, for example, boasts seven pools, along with a record-breaking waterpark featuring six slides and an indoor AquaTheater home to high-diving performances. On top of that, it's important to remember that guests also need water for everyday activities like showering, flushing toilets, brushing teeth, washing hands, and more.
The company takes immense pride in its state-of-the-art systems that allow ships to create, conserve, and treat every drop of water to ensure a constant, sustainable supply.
More than 90% of the water on Royal Caribbean ships is created onboard by turning salty seawater into freshwater through reverse osmosis or evaporation.
Reverse osmosis pushes saltwater through membranes to remove contaminants, while steam evaporation uses the heat from the ship's engine to boil the seawater and leave the salt as a byproduct.
Public health guidelines then require the new freshwater to be mineralized for flavor before being distributed across the ship.
Conservation efforts also dictate how water is moved around the ship. For example, they use aeration to create pressure to use less water, rather than forcing water out of faucets and shower heads at high volumes.
Additionally, water is repurposed wherever possible. For instance, did you know Royal Caribbean ships reuse the condensation from the air conditioning units to do laundry?
The company also hired a water specialist to oversee Perfect Day at CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark and the private island's irrigation system, which ensures that treated wastewater is used efficiently for landscaping.
Speaking of wastewater treatment, Royal Caribbean's Advanced Wastewater Purification System treats water to standards twice as strict as many local municipalities.
It uses bioreactors, UV light, and dissolved air to remove contaminants, so water can be safely returned to the ocean without impacting the fragile ecosystem.
Royal Caribbean's comprehensive approach to water management highlights the company's dedication to minimizing its environmental impact while maximizing comfort for everyone onboard and ashore, whether on a port-intensive European cruise or a 3-night getaway to CocoCay.
Commitment to sustainability
In addition to the company's water conservation efforts, Royal Caribbean strives to reduce the amount of food waste onboard its ships, hoping to reduce waste across the fleet by 50% by 2025.
By focusing on the front end of the food system and addressing many of the main causes of food waste, including inventory management and over-preparation, they've already reported a 24% reduction in food waste.
Other food waste-specific initiatives include developing a proprietary platform to monitor food supply and accurately estimate how much food should be produced, prepped, and ordered on a given day; using artificial intelligence to adjust food production in real-time; introducing a dedicated onboard food waste role; tracking guest demand for specific items and adjusting preparation; and introducing a new food waste awareness captain in crew dining areas.
Royal Caribbean Group's overarching sustainability goals are referred to as "Destination Net Zero." Everything from the reduction of food waste to water conservation helps the company work toward the delivery of a net zero emissions cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean's gift card sale was so popular that the cruise line had to pull it down just hours after it went live.
The offer helped cruisers save 10% on gift card purchases, with Crown & Anchor Society members receiving an additional 10% off.
This meant that if you purchased a $2,000 gift card, C&A Society members would get $400 (or 20%) off, bringing the total to just $1,600. The offer applied to all purchases of $350 or more.
Unfortunately, the promotion was too popular for its own good. The unexpected surge in demand caused the cruise line to halt the sale within hours of its launch.
Despite being advertised as a limited-time offer running through December 20, 2024, the sale's terms and conditions stated that the deal could change at any time without notice, which is exactly what happened.
Royal Caribbean gift cards are great holiday gifts because of their versatility. Not only can they be used as onboard credit during your cruise, but they can also be applied directly toward your cruise fare.
Plus, they can be used on Royal Caribbean and Celebrity and don't expire.
While the link is still valid, the 10% to 20% discounts are no longer automatically applied. If you add a $2,000 gift card to your cart, the price will remain $2,000 without the discount.
However, it’s still possible to purchase gift cards at their regular price, and they can be used on the balance of a future cruise or towards onboard spending for Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises.
Less than 24 hours after the offer went live, people began reporting that the deal was already marked as expired, with cruisers expressing their disappointment in a Reddit post shared to the r/royalcaribbean thread.
wiredtobeweird said, "I’m so sad I had it in my cart and was cruise shopping and finally settled on a cruise and went to buy it and it was gone."
"I think they reached their limit of how many they could sell," added just---chillin.
In another post, one Reddit user shared how they were waiting for their wife to come home to purchase a gift card to use on their honeymoon cruise. "That sucks, could have really helped," GameSyns remarked.
"Dang it, I was hoping to buy another one tomorrow or within the next few days after moving some money around," commented RyouRusi.
Despite being pulled, some users are hopeful Royal Caribbean will reactivate the promotion
"[H]opefully they bring it back, I'm gonna consistently check for the next couple days. I'll even take the 10%, which I'm not even seeing. so must be a temporary removal I hope," said otbalingit.
RyouRusi shared similar thoughts, indicating they're hopeful because the original terms said there would be a "'code' that '[could] only be used once'."
"Someone messed something up I feel like. So maybe they'll bring it back in the 'proper' 1 time use form," they added.
To be clear, it's unclear whether Royal Caribbean will bring back the promotion. This is just speculation from cruisers who are hoping for a second chance to save money.
However, with some Reddit users sharing they purchased, two, three, four, and even seven gift cards, it's clear that many took advantage of the deal more than once before it was pulled.
Going on a cruise ship is becoming more popular each year for a family vacation, but there are some traditions of cruising that might seem weird.
As a new cruiser, there are things that people that cruise a lot typically do and it's not what you'd find in other forms of travel. It's part of the appeal of cruise ship travel, because it's not like going to a city or resort on land.
Cruises are different from any other kind of vacation, and if you're brand new to it all, prepare to embrace these differences. Remember, it's different, not bad.
Here are some cruise traditions that might confuse someone who has never cruised before.
Door decorating
I doubt anyone going on their first cruise would even think they should pack art supplies for the purpose of making their stateroom door stand out.
Decorating stateroom doors was born out of passengers wanting to share their excitement that they're on vacation and express themselves.
Door decorations can consist of name tags, lights, paper creations and pretty much anything else that can be attached to a door via magnets.
It's also very personal, where people might advertise they are celebrating a special occasion, whom they're traveling with, or show off their artistic prowess.
It's a fun way to share who is cruising and why, and your family can get in on the fun too if you bring the proper materials. Just be sure not to use any adhesives like tape or glue (magnets work best).
Code named events
If you flip through the event schedule on your Royal Caribbean app, you might see a couple of events with strange names.
"Friends of Dorothy" or "Friends of Bill W' may sound like someone got their own personal event listed, but they're actually code words for what the event really is.
Friends of Bill W. is an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, named after one of the founders of the organization.
Friends of Dorothy is a meeting for the LGBTQ+ community.
In both cases, they use code words to keep it somewhat anonymous. These are also self-led events, so there won't be Royal Caribbean staff there to lead them.
No deck 13
On some Royal Caribbean ships you may go into the elevator and notice deck 13 is missing from the buttons.
This is one of those maritime superstitions that continues to today, where the number 13 is considered unlucky.
As an example, Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas, doesn't have deck 13. A brand new cruise ship that launched in 2024 omits number 13 from its layout!
The way it works is passengers purchase rubber ducks before the cruise begins, and then proceed to place them around public areas of the ship so people can find them.
There's usually a tag on it that explains you can keep the duck or re-hide it for someone else to find.
Why do people do it? Because it's something to do, and some people relish in placing them around the ship to bring joy to others that find it. Others, especially children, love the appeal of going on a "hunt" to find them and coming away with a gift.
Crew member code phrases
This tradition is one crew members use, and it's to communicate problems around the ship without alerting guests.
You might hear announcements over the ship's public address system that use Greek letters along with a location on the ship.
There's a lot of cruise ship lingo to begin with, but these code phrases are a way to quickly convey what's happening to other crew.
You really don't need to know about them, but the first time you hear, "Alpha, alpha, alpha," you might wonder what just happened and why it was said.
Upside down pineapples
We already covered stateroom door decorations, but there's particular door "art" that means more than an affinity for a particular fruit.
If you see an upside down pineapple, it means that the couple is trying to let others know that are looking to swap sexual partners.
This isn't to be confused with pineapples on clothing or bags, because that's just about fashion.
Truthfully, actually seeing an upside down pineapple on a stateroom door is pretty darn rare and I doubt you'll ever see it. But you should know theoretically it's a thing, and probably not something you'd expect to run across.
Wearing matching t-shirts
A lot of families and groups will wear the same t-shirt on their cruise as a way to celebrate in the fun of the trip and let everyone else know they're part of a group.
On embarkation day especially, you can spot plenty of groups walking onboard in matching colored shirts that have a phrase like, "Getting Nauti" or "Get ship faced" or my favorite, "Yea Bouy!"
In addition, family reunions, birthdays, bachelorette parties and other special occasions see lots of matching shirts. Some even take the next step and customize the shirt with names or nicknames.
To be fair, I have seen this trend on land in places like theme parks too.
Flaunting loyalty status
I have yet to ever see Bonvoy or Delta Medallion club member walk around with their loyalty tier adorned to their shirt, but you'll see people doing that on a Royal Caribbean cruise!
It has no bearing on you or your cruise experience, but new cruisers sometimes confuse Pinnacle Club members with crew members because they expect only crew members to have their name on display on a pin.
Dining with strangers
Food is a big draw of going on a cruise, but new cruisers are usually surprised to hear there's a chance they could be sharing a dining table with people they don't know.
Sharing tables is a cruising tradition that goes back decades, and it still happens when you choose a traditional assigned-time seating and you are small group or alone.
Because the dining room has a fixed capacity and a lot of people want to dine each night, seats are limited.
When Royal Caribbean opens its first beach club experience, it will be unlike anything they've offered to date.
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is currently under construction and will be a new kind of experience blending water access, service, and Bahamian flare.
The big Royal Caribbean announcement today was revealing that admission will be an all-inclusive pass with an opening date of December 2025.
Passes and cabana rentals will go on sale starting in the spring of 2025.
Located on 17 acres at the western end of Paradise Island in Nassau, guests will have the choice of spending their day enjoying the pools, beaches, live music, island-style barbecues and more.
What a day pass includes
Unlike a private island day, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island requires an extra cost day pass to get in. We first reported in April 2023 that the beach club would be all-inclusive, and that's so that it can be "the ultimate beach day," according to Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider.
A day pass will include:
Access to all amenities
Water taxi ride between pier and beach club
All food and beverage, including alcohol
Beach chairs
Umbrellas
To access the beach club, you'll need to disembark your cruise ship and walk to the ferry area within the newly revamped Nassau cruise port.
From there, you can take one of the new water taxis to get you to the beach club.
The beach club has beaches and pools, three swim-up bars, seven beach bars, more than 40 cabanas – including the one-of-a-kind Ultimate Family Cabana with personal attendant service – and more.
One thing you won't find at the beach club are big thrills.
Royal Caribbean did not share how much admission will cost and/or the cabana rentals.
What you can do at the beach club
There are three zones to choose from when you arrive at the Royal Beach Club.
Party Cove
If you prefer more dancing, singing, and celebrating as part of your beach day, head to Party Cove.
Royal Caribbean is building the world’s largest swim-up bar, called The Floating Flamingo. This is where you'll find a DJ playing lots of music all day long.
You'll also find a VIP space within Party Cove, where you can get personal poolside service and incredible views.
Family Beach
Royal Caribbean is a family cruise line, and the beach club will be an extension of that by offering an entire zone for families to enjoy.
Family Beach is near the The Shallow End zero-entry pool.
You'll also find beach games of all kinds from tug-of-war to paddle ball in this area.
This is also where Royal Caribbean will offer its Ultimate Family Cabana, which is a brand new elevated concept.
While beach cabanas to rent are not a new concept for Royal Caribbean, but this one will have two levels and include a thrilling slide, dedicated whirlpool, frozen drink machine and more.
Chill Beach
Borrowing the name from Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Beach Club will have the perfect area to relax and enjoy a day in The Bahamas.
There's the choice of The Deep End pool, or Chill Beach.
This is also where you can find shopping opportunities a the local artisan huts that are staffed by Bahamians. Similarly, there are areas to grab a bite to eat and enjoy food such as grilled shrimp skewers or fire engine fritters.
Exclusive retreat
If the new beach club sounds different, it's because it is.
Cruise lines have traditionally offered either a private island beach day or sold shore excursions operated by third parties. Nothing on this scale has been attempted before.
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley thinks this will be appeal to just about everyone, "The Royal Beach Club Collection is designed for every type of family and vacationer to get everything they want out of their ideal beach day – no matter the vibe they’re looking for."
In short, Royal Caribbean wants to offer more than any other cruise line, and only to its customers.
Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty talked about the importance of exclusivity during the company's first quarter earnings call this year, "One of the incredible things that we’re seeing out of destinations like Perfect Day — and we’ll see this in the Royal Beach Club in Nassau — is how it’s drawing in new-to-cruise (passengers) and millennials."
"A one of a kind, unique project"
Helping bring this vision to life is Philip Simon, President of Royal Caribbean Group Bahamas.
"To me, this is such a one of a kind, unique project," he said in an exclusive interview with Royal Caribbean Blog.
From day one, Royal Caribbean has designed this beach club to be a partnership with the people of The Bahamas. There's a revenue sharing agreement that gives up to 49% equity. New jobs have been created, and there will be a new tourism levy that will fund reinvesting in the local community.
"I've never seen anything like it, and I'm not just saying that to kind of pump ourselves up."
"We call it a unicorn type of partnership that we're very proud of."
Mr. Simon believes the final product will show off just how economically and environmentally beneficial the new club will be.
Royal Caribbean faced public backlash initially when the deal was announced, with critics concerned about the impact developing this land would have.
Mr. Simon said his team has helped improve the 17-acre site, removing derelict buildings, and improving the landscaping. Plus, there are strict environmental policies in place.
In fact, he wants to invite those detractors to see it for themselves, "You will have a product within the heart of downtown Nassau that is just going to be so amazing. So I look forward to next year, and I look forward to sending invites to everybody."
More beach clubs coming soon
Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is the first beach club, but there are two more coming as well.
There are two more beach clubs set to open in the next few years.
The next beach club to open will be in Cozumel, Mexico when Royal Beach Club Cozumel begins operations. That will open sometime in 2026.
The exact site has not been shared, but it will be somewhere on the west coast of Cozumel, and just like Nassau, the exclusive club will combine great views, beaches, pools, and food.
A third beach club will be on the island of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. No name or details have been shared, but it could open in 2026 or 2027.
Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial fan blog written for other fans of Royal Caribbean International. The Royal Caribbean Blog is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International
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