Royal Caribbean Blog

When I booked a European cruise, I purposefully planned to arrive a few days early so that I could have a better cruise experience.

Cruise experts will always advocate flying in at least one day before a cruise begins, but that tip is primarily about ensuring a travel delay does not prevent you from missing your cruise.  While this is sage advice, there's one other really good reason to arrive early.

When your cruise goes out of an area with significant cultural and historical significance (sorry Port Canaveral), you'll likely want to explore on land as much as ensuring you don't miss the ship.

My 7-night France and Spain cruise on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas was scheduled to depart on a Sunday, but I flew in Thursday night so I could have a few days in London prior to the cruise beginning.

My primary impetus for coming in two days early was so that I would make the cruise, but the opportunity to see London was just as important. In retrospect, I made a few mistakes along the way that I won't repeat on my next visit.

Not starting with jetlag

Probably the single largest concern I had prior to my trip was being jetlagged and it ruining my cruise.

No matter what strategy you have to fight jetlag, the more time you have to acclimate to local time, the better your chances of jetlag not messing up your ship tour plans.

Unfortunately, sleeping on an airplane wasn't in the cards for me on this trip. I read, listened to music, and watched movies. I attempted — and failed — to fall asleep.

Because I booked this cruise as the primary reason for travel, I was more concerned with being optimized for the cruise, than my time in London.  While I would have been disappointed to miss out on time in London, that was always a bonus for my overall trip.

Because I didn't sleep at all on my flight over, I stayed up all day while in England and then finally went to bed after 36 hours being awake.  It wasn't easy, but I felt like I avoided the worst of the jetlag and the morning of my cruise, I was ready to go.

Even if you break every jetlag advice out there, if you have a few days to sleep it off and get yourself set, you'll have a better cruise.

Mistake: Taking the train from the airport

I did a fair amount of research prior to my trip on how to tackle London, and a lot of the YouTube videos I watched implored to use the train between London Heathrow airport and the city.

I found this to be mistake in the sense going on a train with full-size (and heavy) luggage is cumbersome, difficult, and a giant pain.

Not only are there long distances to pull the luggage around, but there are stairs and platforms to traverse that are not easy with a lot of luggage.

The advice is spot on with how to save money, but it's really meant for someone backpacking or traveling with carry-on luggage.

The only saving grace was I was traveling solo, because if I tried to do this with my family, it would have resulted in a lot of tears of frustration.

If you have big pieces of luggage, my advice is spend extra on an Uber ride, car service, or taxi.

Balancing tourist traps & the real deal

If you read enough articles and videos about what to do in London, there's lots of conjecture about what's worth your time or not, and inevitably I found myself weighing the pros and cons of any activity.

Part of my strategy to avoid not falling asleep on my first day in London was to get out and explore.  I knew sitting in my Airbnb rental would just lead to sleep, so I deliberately got out and walked around.

The biggest issue I found is picking things you want to do and how to see the most without succumbing to heavy tourist traps.

Certainly everyone wants to see Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and the like. The problem is the insane crowds that are there most of the day.

I found it best to take a leisurely walking tour of the area so I could see them, take photos, but not commit to going in for a tour. My rationale is the most notable thing about them is being able to say you saw it and take a photo. What the hallways, portraits, and artifacts found inside are all about is less memorable.

That probably sounds like a cold approach to it, but I wanted to maximize my time and see more. 

I ran across a great tip for an alternative to the hop on, hop off buses.  Those bus tours cost around 40 pounds per person, but instead you can hop on the route number 11 bus for just 1.65 per person and the loop goes by many of the major attractions in Central London.

I also took time to walk along the Thames River on the south bank of the Thames, which gives you great views of the major sights. 

There are inexpensive boat tours you can take, or enjoy a leisurely stroll. The walk between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge allows you to see:

• London Eye
• The Shard
• London Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Hungerford Bridge & Golden Jubilee Bridges
• Southwark Cathedral
• London County Hall
• Shakespeare’s Globe
• Royal Festival Hall
• Houses of Parliament
• Westminster Abbey
• Tower of London

There's so much to see around London, which is why I found it advantageous to take in sights as I passed by.

Mistake: Not prioritizing outdoor activities when weather is good

The stereotype that it's always cloudy and raining in England is not that far off from the truth, so take advantage of good weather when you can.

I had near perfect weather on the first day I was in London. It was mostly sunny, comfortable temperatures, and a nice breeze.  It was very pleasant to be outside and walk around.

While I did do a lot of walking around the Thames river, I wish I had spent more time prioritizing outdoor activities I thought I could do the next day.

The second day was mostly a rain out, and I don't care how motivated you are to see outdoor sights rain or shine, it's miserable being outside in the rain.

I would recommend having a list of what you want to see and do, and double down on anything outdoors when it's nice out.  Save the museums and shows for rainy days whenever possible.

Mistake: Taking the stairs at Covent Garden station

196 stairs or the elevator, and I thought taking the stairs up wouldn't be so bad.

What was I thinking taking the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator?!

Despite the stairs mistake, Covent Garden is a fun area to go I liked all the different vendors selling all sorts of souvenirs. 

Welcome to this week's edition of the Royal Caribbean post round-up, where we summarize all of the Royal Caribbean news and information from this week into one handy-dandy post! There is plenty of great content to enjoy, so sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's round-up!

Royal Caribbean revealed details about its second Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas.

The follow-up to the wildly successful Icon of the Seas, Star will sail from Port Canaveral in August 2025.

Star of the Seas will have new technological advances and dining upgrades that aim to improve a ship that has resonated with guests on Icon.

Royal Caribbean News

• Protesters in European Port Prevent Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships from Docking
• I spent $856 extra for an obstructed balcony cabin on my cruise. A lifeboat ruined the view, but I would book it again
• How to get free drinks on a cruise
• Our readers shared their RoyalUp winning bids
• The worst part of flying to Europe could easily ruin half your cruise
• 10 things that surprised me after cruising for one year

New RCB Video: 4 splurges to skip lines on a cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise!

This week, we are sharing our latest video — 4 splurges to skip lines on a cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 543rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available! Matt previews his upcoming cruise on Anthem of the Seas, sharing how he's prepared for the European itinerary. 

We update our podcast weekly, so subscribe for more updates via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, or RSS.

You can also leave us a rating or review on iTunes, so go ahead and check it out! We appreciate your feedback.

Royal Caribbean will soon have something no other cruise line can match

Royal Caribbean's long-term plans involve a strategy to compete with other cruise lines and on-land vacations.

By 2026, the cruise line will have two on-land beach clubs, one in Nassau, Bahamas, and one in Cozumel, Mexico. 

Royal Caribbean intends to provide the best vacation experience by combining great destinations with new ships.

Is Royal Caribbean good? 10 surprising reasons I think Royal Caribbean is worth it

After cruising with Royal Caribbean on 8 sailings over one year, Calista believes the cruise line deserves its reputation for excellence.

Business is booming for Royal Caribbean, and cruisers get great value for their money.

From quality customer service to stunning mega-ships, here are the top 10 reasons she likes Royal Caribbean.

Mistakes when cruising with babies, toddlers, and kids

Traveling with kids changes the dynamics of your cruise, so how can you best adjust?

Matt's been taking his two daughters on cruises since they were small, enough that his 13-year-old daughter now has 400 points in the Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program.

After taking more than 400 nights of cruises with kids, Matt has learned important lessons about the process.

I took my first cruise one year ago because of a new opportunity, and it was so much more different than I expected.

I felt anxious before my first sailing, unsure of what to expect, despite doing careful research beforehand.

Beginning to cruise came with a lot of surprises, and some hard-learned lessons, whether through personal expenses or wasted time.

Now I've sailed on eight cruises, experiencing unique itineraries and ship classes with the cruise line.

Read more: 15 things that surprised me after my first cruise

After sailing Royal Caribbean's Icon Class, Oasis Class, Quantum Class, Freedom Class, Radiance Class, and Vision Class, I've grown comfortable on Royal Caribbean ships.

Each sailing is its own adventure that holds something unexpected—but here are the 10 things I found most surprising about cruising.

It's not hard to find quality food onboard

To bring food onboard for a cruise, cruise lines have to order, load, and cook dishes all onboard a ship, preparing thousands of meals throughout a sailing.

It sounds like a huge endeavor, so I didn't have high expectations regarding the cuisine onboard.

However, I was surprised to see that you can find excellent food while on a cruise ship—dining is one of the most popular aspects of a Royal Caribbean cruise!

While not all of the complimentary venues are high-quality, I usually enjoy a meal in the Main Dining Room, and you can always splurge on a specialty restaurant for something more elegant.

I get more comfortable with every cruise

On my first cruise, I was surprised to feel claustrophobic while onboard.

The thought that I was stuck on a ship in the middle of the ocean started to overwhelm me since we could only leave on port days or at the end of a cruise.

But as I began to cruise more and more, and I stuck with Royal Caribbean, this feeling of claustrophobia turned into one of comfort.

Each ship felt more and more homelike, as I recognized the familiar Royal Caribbean designs and layouts.

Instead of feeling trapped on the ship, I saw each vessel as a home away from home, a little world I could explore.

Although I was anxious on my first cruise, I quickly realized how safe and comfortable cruise ships can feel.

The cruising community is beyond welcoming

On my cruising journey, I've been pleasantly surprised by how many friendly faces I met along the way.

From conversations made in elevators to shared tables in the Windjammer Buffet, I realized that part of the joy of a cruise is getting to chat with and recognize others onboard.

And when I started joining Hyperlink events or making conversation in the hot tubs, I quickly discovered that it's easy to make friends on a cruise.

Read more: Plan ahead but embrace the unexpected: what first-time cruisers need to know

For someone like myself, who loves meeting new people and learning about other cultures, it's been an unexpected joy on each sailing.

Crew members are committed to quality service

I'm always caught off guard by just how kind, patient, and thoughtful Royal Caribbean's crew members are.

On my first cruise, I was almost uncomfortably surprised by the level of service onboard. 

I have two waiters at my table? The stateroom attendant cleans the room every day?

I've also been able to make unexpected connections with crew members onboard, and I enjoy seeing them go above and beyond to make sure passengers have an amazing time.

I've witnessed waiters folding animals out of napkins for children at their tables and had bartenders make me incredible custom drinks.

It can't be an easy job, but I'm always grateful for interactions with crew members.

Staterooms vary greatly and have a huge influence on your experience

Cruises are very adjustable to a passenger's preferences and budget, and staterooms are a big part of that.

You can opt for the cheapest possible cabin: a small, interior guarantee, or splurge on a huge two-bedroom suite.

However, your stateroom selection has a huge influence on the entire cruise. Since it's your home for the length of the sailing, sometimes it's worth paying more for a better cabin.

For example, the cabin on my Wonder of the Seas cruise was a small, windowless interior room located at the very front of the ship.

Not only did we hear the noise of the anchor banging at night, but I also suffered increased seasickness due to the cabin's position.

Each ship class is distinct, but vessels are remarkably similar within the same class

Royal Caribbean groups its ships into eight separate classes.

Each class varies greatly in terms of size, design, activities, and amenities.

However, ships within the same class feel surprisingly familiar to me.

After sailing on Wonder and Allure of the Seas, getting on Oasis (another Oasis-Class ship) felt like returning home rather than experiencing a new vessel.

I walked around the ship thinking that it felt like a classic Oasis Class experience.

Read more: I'm new to Royal Caribbean and tried 4 different kinds of cruise ships, here's what I like about each

The bigger ships have an overwhelming amount of activities onboard

It still surprises me just how much you can do while on a cruise ship.

Cruise lines seem to compete to see how much they can cram onto one floating vessel.

On Royal Caribbean's Icon, Quantum, and Oasis Classes, in particular, you can find activities for any interest.

These include ice skating, laser tag, zip lining, trivia, chess, waterslides, escape rooms, bumper cars, surfing simulators, sky diving simulators, rock climbing walls, and more.

If you're trying to pack for all of these events, it gets overwhelming quickly!

But the beauty of sailing on a mega-ship is that you can choose to do exactly what interests you.

A lot is included in your fare, but onboard expenses can add up

When I first started cruising, I felt surprised at how much was included in the base cruise fare; dining, stateroom, room service, entertainment, activities, and visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

However, you shouldn't let all of your budget go to the base fare. Onboard expenses like drinks, WiFi, and shopping can quickly add up.

For example, if you're sailing on a 7-day cruise and want to purchase an Internet package for the full week, you're looking at a $140 minimum, for just one device.

Solo cruises are worth it—they're one of my favorite ways to travel

Although I felt frightened to take a cruise alone, I quickly discovered that solo cruises are one of my favorite ways to travel.

As a young woman, cruises feel like a safe way to get around, with security guards and cameras everywhere.

Plus, you get a room to yourself, and the chance to go at your own pace.

And cruising solo doesn't necessarily mean you'll be lonely, it's actually a great way to encourage yourself to meet new people!

Days on shore are short, but you can still have amazing experiences

At first, cruising was a shock to my traveler spirit. 

The ship's itinerary only allows for 8 hours or less at most ports—hardly enough time to fully explore an area!

But with careful research and some amazing tours, I've been able to see once-in-a-lifetime places.

I've visited Mayan ruins, seen classical art in Florence, and touched tropical fish while snorkeling in Mexico. 

And each visit has planted a seed, just in case I ever want to go back for a longer visit.

Read more: 7 surprising things I learned when booking a cruise for the first time

Going on a European cruise sounds like the perfect way to see the world, but if you're flying across the Atlantic, it's critical you start the trip on the right foot.

I flew from my home in Florida to London in order to board an Anthem of the Seas cruise departing from Southampton. It's a new itinerary with lots of firsts for me.

The problem is fighting jetlag before it hits so that you're not sleeping away half the cruise while getting acclimated to local time.

Prior to my trip, I read the same piece of advice over and over again: don't sleep until it's bed time so you can adjust to local time.

It's a solid strategy, but you have to consider what time you'll arrive in Europe and how feasible it is to stay awake.

Flight times matter

I thought I hit the jackpot by having a direct flight between Orlando and London, because flying internationally and catching connecting flights seems like a recipe for a disaster.

What I did not take into account was what time I'd arrive in London and how difficult it would be to follow everyone's advice.

My flight departed Florida at 5:30pm (actually it was 6:30pm due to weather and traffic delays), which got me into London at a few minutes before 7am.

This meant I would have to stay awake for about 36 hours in order to follow the strategy.

Oh but Matt, you can sleep on the airplane!

While there might be unconfirmed cases of human beings able to sleep on an airplane, I am not that person. Moreover, the departure time meant my brain thought it was still too early to go to sleep, and I only really started to get drowsy in the final two hours of the flight.

I'm sure some would point out different drug and alcohol cocktails to make me sleepy, but I really hate feeling out of control on a plane. 

Ultimately, the flight time is what mattes the most.  Ideally, you'll get a flight that gets you into Europe in the afternoon or evening, so there are just a few hours to remain awake.

Ignoring jetlag could lead to missing too much of the cruise

The longer you put off adjusting to local time, the harder it is to break the cycle of waking up too early and going to sleep too early.

For an itinerary that's brand new to me visiting the northern coast of Spain and France, I did not want to squander the opportunity by sleeping.

On other trips when I've been jetlagged, I recall how frustrating it would be to wake up around 3 or 4am, and then want to go to sleep for the night in the afternoon. You feel helpless and it spirals quickly.

Plan multiple days before your cruise

While I may have picked the wrong flight, I did make a good decision in how early I arrived before my cruise departed.

Instead of the usual flying in one day before a cruise rule, I arrived in London a full two days before my cruise began.

The idea is to give myself more time to acclimate. Sure, seeing the sights around London is good too, but the cruise is what I'm most concerned about.

Heck, if you have plenty of vacation days, you could fly in earlier than two days and let jetlag happen, but work through it.

Fighting jetlag takes discipline

The experts are right. No matter how hard it is, you really want to force yourself to stay awake on the day you arrive until it's bed time in that country.

Unless you're someone who can really get solid sleep in while on an airplane, you should be prepared to acclimate to local time as quickly as possible.

If you're flying many hours for a cruise, that last thing you want to do is sleep it all away. And you definitely don't want to feel tired and groggy when you're awake.

Pick a flight that gets you in closer to bed time, and give your body plenty of time to adjust.

Cruise lines are constantly in a chess match to outdo each other, and Royal Caribbean is betting it has a super move up its sleeve.

Just like how an auto manufacturer might implement a feature not available on other brands vehicles, Royal Caribbean is poised to outdo other cruise lines with an offering they think will get a lot of attention.

Ironically, their next big investment is in the very thing they have traditionally competed against: fun on land.

Two different beach clubs are going to be built, with one opening in 2025 and 2026. These aren't traditional cruise line private islands that are open to all passengers onboard and included with the cruise fare. This will be something above and beyond that.

Royal Caribbean will open its first Royal Beach Club in Nassau, Bahamas in summer 2025, followed by its second beach club to open in Cozumel, Mexico in 2026.

Differences between the mega cruise ship lines can be subtle, but these beach clubs are about standing out from the pack and drawing in new customers with something no one else can offer.

Solving customer needs

Before you step foot in any of these clubs, the rationale for offering a beach club is about targeting two key markets for Royal Caribbean.

The first beach club opens in one of the most highly visited and poorly rated cruise ports in the world, Nassau. 

Nassau consistently ranks in the bottom 10% of customer satisfaction among Royal Caribbean customers, even though it's located close to the United States and many cruise ships visit it.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said the issue Nassau faces is it lacks special things to do that are also original.

Because it's so frequently visited, passengers find the choices of what to do in port limiting and uninspiring.

Royal Caribbean wanted to solve this problem because not going to Nassau really isn't an option.  The line brought more than 1.6 million visitors to the Nassau cruise port in 2023.

In April 2023, Mr. Bayley talked about this need to improve shore excursion choices for their customers, "We want to improve the experience of our guests. We can’t keep selling experiences to people who say we love going to Perfect Day, it’s fantastic, we want to go back, but the Nassau thing, can you guys stop going there? We can’t do that, so yeah, we want to be a part of the solution."

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Construction is underway to build and open Royal Caribbean's answer to its customer's issues with Nassau.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open in summer 2025 on a 17-acre site that is right across from where all the cruise ships dock. Not only is it prime real estate, it's a a shining beacon to every other cruise line what they're missing out on.

Royal Caribbean wants to offer an unparalleled beach experience in a prime spot, exclusively to its customers.

Royal Beach Clubs are limited access and have an extra cost to them. This means only a few thousands Royal Caribbean guests will be able to visit it each day, and it will not be included in the base cruise fare.

About 2,000 people will be able to purchase a pass each day. No word yet on how much admission will cost.

Once inside, guests can enjoy three pools with swim-up bars, live music, two beaches, four restaurants serving local food.

The club is also going to incorporate Bahamian culture in an industry first cooperative effort to give back to the people of The Bahamas with a revenue sharing agreement that gives up to 49% equity.

It's expected the beach club will generate hundreds of jobs between the construction and long-term operation.  Plus, there will be a new tourism levy that will fund reinvesting in the local community. 

Once open, the beach club will offer something fresh and different, not only in Nassau, but among the entire industry too.

Royal Beach Club Cozumel

The second part of Royal Caribbean's plan is to open another beach club in 2026 on the other side of the Caribbean in Cozumel, Mexico.

Cozumel is another traditionally popular cruise port, but unlike Nassau, doesn't have the low rating problem.  However, the club addresses a different need.

Royal Caribbean is investing in many places, including Galveston, Texas.  While Florida may be the capital of cruising, Galveston is quickly becoming a rival hot spot, with newer and bigger ships sailing from Texas.  In fact, Royal Caribbean built a massive new cruise terminal that can handle the largest cruise ships in the world.

The issue with cruises from Galveston has been a lack of port variety. In order to meet the typical week-long vacation window most Americans abide by, cruise ships sailing from Galveston are relegated to the same Western Caribbean cruise ports, including Cozumel.

A Royal Beach Club in Cozumel gives Royal Caribbean passengers something different, and a familiar face in a crowded room of things to do.

Just like Nassau, the beach club in Cozumel will combine great views, with great access to water.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider described the club as having, "great beach, great pool, great food, great service."

The Cozumel club will offer swim-up bars, pools cabanas to rent, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets.

Full details haven't been released yet, but there have been hints both beach clubs are going to truly stand out as more than "just another beach" to visit.

Combining new destinations and new ships

The new beach clubs dove tail right into the launch of three new cruise ships that Royal Caribbean thinks will offer the very best vacation choice in the market.

Icon of the Seas launched earlier this year to become the world's largest cruise ship, and has earned incredible accolades for setting a new standard for cruise ships.

Utopia of the Seas also launched this year, and while not as innovative as Icon, she is arguably the top choice for a short weekend cruise.

Next year, Star of the Seas will join the fleet and sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. The sister to Icon of the Seas, Star will will be a follow-up that seeks to capitalize on Icon's success while introducing a few improvements.

Royal Caribbean seems to think combing the very best cruise ships with the very best destinations is how they'll win over thousands of people who have never taken a cruise before. To borrow a term from the military, it looks like a lot of "shock and awe" to stand out from any other choice.

Royal Caribbean has gained a well-deserved reputation for offering some of the best cruises worldwide.

Over the last year, I've sailed eight Royal Caribbean cruises, and seen firsthand how the cruise line excels.

The Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards named Royal Caribbean the Best Cruise Line Overall, Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean, and Best Cruise Line Entertainment.

With 28 ships in the fleet and more on the way, business is booming.

According to Royal Caribbean's CEO, it's selling more staterooms than ever.

Cruisers are buying their Royal Caribbean cruises at higher prices, and further in advance.

Its prices may be higher than other cruise lines (especially depending on the sailing) but I think you get great value for your money and the cruise is worth it in the long run.

Over the past year, I've learned and come to love the reasons why the cruise line is so popular.

1. Quality service from hard working crew members

Royal Caribbean's crew members go above and beyond.

The level of service onboard a Royal Caribbean ship can shock a newcomer to the cruise line.

You'll receive a personal stateroom attendant who cleans the cabin at least once a day (twice for suites).

If you choose to dine in the Main Dining Room, you'll be served by a waiter and an assistant waiter.

Bartenders come around to the pools for personal drink service, handing them directly to you so you don't even have to lift a finger.

Crew members onboard Royal Caribbean ships ensure excellent service that ensures a pleasant and memorable cruise.

Read more: This Royal Caribbean crew member reminds cruise ship passengers to wash their hands and has a cult-like following of fans

2. Diverse dining & cuisine

Although food is completely subjective, many cruisers enjoy Royal Caribbean's dining options.

The Main Dining Room offers complimentary, hot meals served in a formal setting.

Read more: 21 Tips for the Best Cruise Ship Main Dining Room Experience

The Windjammer Buffet has separate stations (usually at least 5) that offer various dishes for every meal.

Complimentary venues like El Loco Fresh and Cafe Promenade also offer a variety of dishes.

No matter your preference, you'll be able to find a quality cuisine onboard.

Splurging on a specialty restaurant also earns even tastier food, from the classic Chops Grill to delicious Izumi Hibachi and Sushi.

Read more: I spent a week on the world's largest cruise ship, the free food was the best of any Royal Caribbean ship

3. World class entertainment

Royal Caribbean has won countless awards for its ship entertainment, and I'm always stunned by the shows onboard.

The cruise line is one of the few that offers full-length Broadway productions. These include fan favorites like CATS, Mamma Mia!, and Grease.

Oasis Class and Icon Class ships with AquaTheaters have amazing water shows that combine synchronized swimming, high-diving, acrobatics, and other talented performers, alongside a marvelous soundtrack.

Royal Caribbean ships also have ice-skating shows, live music, magic shows, comedians, and original productions, all available for free during your cruise.

4. Great loyalty program benefits

The Crown and Anchor Society, Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, is one of the best among cruise lines.

It rewards guests even for sailing just a few nights onboard.

After signing up for the program, guests receive one point for every night they sail on a Royal Caribbean ship (two points for solo and suite guests).

At just three points, they'll become a gold member, and receive benefits such as:

• 10% off a glass of wine, soda, or beer
• 25% off any coffee beverage (excluding Starbucks)
• 50% off a Johnny Rockets milkshake
• 50% off any glass of wine, beer or soda
• Access to a private departure lounge
• 10% off any Internet package purchased onboard
• $2 Casino Royale FreePlay
• 10% off any spa service (excluding Medi-Spa services)

Not only that, but Royal Caribbean International also offers status matching across all its brands.

If you earn points on a Royal Caribbean ship, you'll receive equivalent benefits while sailing with Celebrity or SilverSea Cruises.

5. Pools and amenities

Your Royal Caribbean cruise fare will include access to the ship's pool deck, including lounge chairs, hot tubs, water slides, and aqua parks.

Royal Caribbean ships have a stunning pool area, complete with hot tubs, comfortable chairs, plentiful bars, and usually some fun activities, such as live music, dance classes, or belly flop competitions.

The Solarium pool area, an indoor section with additional pools and hot tubs, has no extra cost but it is limited to guests 18 and over.

Some ships also have a suites-only pool area, which can only be accessed by guests staying in suites.

Included amenities also include the fitness center, jogging track, and sports court onboard.

6. Complimentary childcare at Adventure Ocean

Active, educational kids programming is also included in your cruise fare.

From its opening in the morning until 10 P.M., Adventure Ocean is free for children between the ages of 3 and 17 years old.

From 10 P.M. to 2 A.M., there is an hourly cost for kid's care.

The programming is tailored to each age group, with kids taking part in fun, social activities led by the staff.

Some ships offer more social programming, such as games and scavenger hunts. Others have science labs and craft workshops.

Teens (ages 12 to 17) have access to a teen club and hangout area, where they can spend time and meet one another.

For babies between 6 and 36 months old, there is a Royal Babies and Tots program. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have a nursery that comes at an hourly charge.

7. Perfect Day at CocoCay, a private island in the Bahamas

Any Royal Caribbean cruise that includes a stop at Perfect Day at Cococay on its itinerary offers free access to this stunning tropical island.

Located in the Bahamas, Royal Caribbean's private island spans 120 acres and offers free beaches, activities, and amenities.

This ideal private island experience includes multiple beaches, a waterpark, a large freshwater pool, a beach club, a zip line, free tram services, and much more.

Guests on the island can pick their favorite activities to enjoy, from snorkeling to beach volleyball.

8. Limitless onboard activities

If you're looking for fun, unique activities to try for free, Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line for you.

Its ships include signature activities that are included in your cruise fare, such as:

• The FlowRider surf simulator
• Rock climbing wall
• Mini golf
• Waterslides
• Ziplining
• Bumper cars
• Ice skating
• Laser tag
• The Ultimate Abyss dry slide
• Aqua parks

Games and parties also abound onboard, including dance parties, movie nights, trivia, scavenger hunts, pool games, and nightclub events.

A look at any Cruise Compass reveals so many free activities all over the ship.

9. Stunning mega-ships

Another draw to Royal Caribbean's fleet is its stunning mega-ships and technological feats.

Every year, the cruise line breaks a new record with the largest cruise ships in the world, the largest dry slides at sea, and so on.

Read more: How cruise ships got so big

Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's latest feet, is currently the biggest cruise ship in the world at 250,800 gross tons.

The vessel features 20 decks, with a capacity for nearly 10,000 people onboard (including passengers and crew members).

The floating theme park has a water park, spa, casino, shopping mall, arcade, gym, three theaters, seven pools, 20 dining venues, and 15 bars.

Sailing on these ships grants you bragging rights as well as the opportunity to enjoy a new, high-tech vacation.

10. Quality staterooms, from two-story to small

Your cruise experience is completely adjustable, varying based on your preferences, priorities, and budget.

To help meet every cruiser's needs, Royal Caribbean offers a large range of cabin categories.

Icon of the Seas, for instance, has 28 distinct stateroom categories.

From cheaper, windowless interior cabins to huge, two-story suites with multiple bedrooms, there's something for everyone.

No matter your choice, each Royal Caribbean stateroom comes with a set of basic amenities: a bed that can split into two, a private bathroom and shower, a vanity, a safe, a mini-fridge, a closet, and a small TV.

I fell in love with cruising before my first child was born, so when we started having kids, taking them with us was a natural fit.

My two kids are now 13 and 9 years old, and I've taken them on enough Royal Caribbean cruises that my oldest has well over 400 points on her own in the Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program. We've cruised around the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, and we're headed to Europe next summer for the first time with them.

Traveling with kids changes the dynamics, and I've learned a lot of lessons along the way.

In all those years, here are the biggest travel mistakes I've made with my kids, from when they were babies and toddlers to teenagers.

I should have cruised more after they were old enough to cruise

Babies need to be at least six months old to be able to sail on most Royal Caribbean cruises, and I wish I took advantage of the first six months of eligibility more.

When babies are in their first year, they're in their "goldfish stage" of life where they are there mostly to observe.  They can't crawl, can't talk, and they're mostly along for the ride.

The advantage of this age is you can do more with them onboard without much impact to your own plans.  

Kids change everything about your life, and that becomes very apparent as they get older and you start to incorporate their personalities into your plans. But in that first year, I feel like you can take them along more since they are still super dependent on you.

While babies seem to come with more supplies than an army regiment, I think we stayed home too much early on.

Not packing enough baby supplies

On one early cruise we took with my oldest daughter, we learned you go through many more supplies on a ship than at home.

We actually ran out of baby formula and ended up making a run to a supermarket in Cozumel, Mexico to get more.  Because the baby formula brands are different there, it left us a bit uneasy with what to purchase.

Part of why we ran low on formula was because the nursery on the ship seemed to feed her more often, and also because we tried to time feedings with when we were at a restaurant onboard.

On top of that, babies just go through a lot of clothing on a cruise and it was eye opening how much more we really needed. 

As a result, we packed double the baby supplies what we thought we would need. It seemed overkill, but the peace of mind of having enough was worth it.

Not slowing down my cruise pace earlier to cruise at their pace

As my kids got older and could walk, "talk", and swim, I learned we had to adjust our cruise expectations.

Because I had started cruising before I had kids, I developed my own rhythm to my onboard plans. But on one cruise, we got to the second day and things were not going well. It seemed like we were butting heads with my daughter about everything.

In frustration, I called my mom to vent and she taught me an important lesson of sometimes you have to take it down a notch and move at her schedule, even if it means not doing what I want to do.

So we skipped our plans the next day and let my daughter splash around in the aqua park, take a full nap, and have plenty of food breaks.

While not the most super adventurous cruise I ever took, we all had a better day overall. I learned my wife and I could enjoy having a cocktail while my daughter played and our evenings were better if a nap happened instead of trying to "power through it".

There's nothing wrong with making grandiose plans, but you also need to keep things simple.

Not calling the nursery during the day for more breaks

Royal Caribbean's onboard nursery is the best money I've ever spent on a cruise, but I wish I took advantage of it earlier on.

The nursery is small and has limited slots for kids. So when you register them, there aren't a lot of reservations you can make in advance.  On the surface, that sounds like you have only a few times to get your kids in there.

The truth is you can always call and ask if they have openings. I found in the daytime especially, they had a lot of no-shows or open slots.

My favorite strategy was when it was time to feed our kids and put them down for a nap to call the nursery first and ask if they had an opening. During the day, I think it almost always worked (most passengers preferred to bring their kids to the nursery for dinner) and we'd tell them to call us after the nap is over.

In many cases, even after the nap, our daughters loved hanging out in there and we'd have some extra time.  

By taking advantage of this strategy, we got more time for my wife and I to go to the pool, hit the casino, or enjoy one of the activities onboard.

Not pushing for more days away from school in early grades

When I was kid, being taken out of school for a day or two (or even a week) was no big deal. Now, it's a major faux pas to have more than a few unexcused absences.

Part of that is because of how much group learning kids do compared to when I was in school, but I really wish I pushed more for days away when the kids were in elementary school.

As my kids have gotten older, the workload at school has increased to the point that I can see why pulling them is a mistake. But in Kindergarten through second grade, it would have had less of a detrimental impact on their learning and grades.

Fighting my kids on what they eat or don't eat on a cruise

Every parent probably struggles with getting their kids to finish their meals, but I wish I had an epiphany about kids eating earlier.

I remember being in the Main Dining Room with one of my kids and struggling to get her to eat whatever she ordered. It then occurred to me, why do I care?

At home, the food costs money and if we make something else, it requires more effort to cook, clean, and serve. But on a ship, there's a buffet and other quick service food choices around. So I'm not hard pressed to ensure they eat the one dish they ordered. If they want Sorrento's pizza, c'est la vie.

After all, they're on vacation too, and if they eat quesadillas from El Loco Fresh, pizza, and whatever else they deem good, that's fine. I'll let us both enjoy the culinary détente, and resume hostilities back at home.

Two cabins is a must

As my kids got older, the need for an extra bathroom and sleeping separation became more and more apparent.

Sharing a cabin with your kids when they are toddlers makes sense since there's a lot of back and forth, but as they get older, I've found for sanity sake, it's a relief having two cabins.

Booking two cabins might sound expensive, but I've found booking two smaller connecting cabins is around the same price as a single larger cabin. This is especially true when comparing it against a suite.

I can't recommend enough to book two connecting cabins when you're cruising with kids so you can have a full bathroom for them. The shower alone is worth it, given how my girls use the shower as a karaoke room, makeup studio, and sauna.

I would caution against booking adjoining rooms because having the common door in-between that comes with a connecting room is well worth it.

Save this blog on Pinterest

You can bid to upgrade your cruise ship cabin, but how much does it take to win?

The RoyalUp program is Royal Caribbean's bidding program, in which cruisers can bid on a higher stateroom category than the one they booked.

We asked our readers to share if they've ever won a RoyalUp bid, and how much it took to get that stateroom upgrade.

These upgrades come at a lower price than simply upgrading to a better stateroom, making it an attractive and exciting option for getting a good deal.

Essentially, passengers browse through the website page and select the amount they'd be willing to pay to upgrade to a certain cabin category.

The sliding scale reveals how likely you are to get a cabin based on the bid amount. 

The higher the bid amount, the more likely you are to get your upgrade, but the final decision rests on multiple factors.

Whether they upgraded to a balcony, Junior Suite, or Grand Suite, many of our readers shared a winning story.

Boardwalk balcony—$125

Kelseylovestocruise shared that she upgraded from an interior stateroom to a Boardwalk balcony cabin on Harmony of the Seas.

She placed her bid for $125, and it was listed as the lowest amount possible. She still won the bid!

Many cruisers debate if a passenger's Crown and Anchor Society status influences their wins in the RoyalUp program—it's still unclear.

Kelsey was only at Platinum when she was upgraded on her Harmony sailing.

Oceanview infinite balcony—$170

CanHardlyWait had booked an interior guarantee cabin on an Icon of the Seas sailing, then decided to bid the minimum amount on 5 different cabin categories.

To ensure he received his desired category, CanHardlyWait would check cabin availability by doing mock bookings on the website.

By determining that the ship wasn't filling up very fast, he realized he would be able to easily upgrade with the minimum amount.

He won an Oceanview infinite balcony on Icon of the Seas for the minimum bid of $170.

However, CanHardlyWait added that: "Compared to stories I have researched it seems like this trip is an exception to the rule. I would say lack of initial interest in infinite balconies played a factor."

Oceanview balcony—$200

User Bazza was sailing on a 14-night Grandeur of the Seas cruise when they decided to bid around $200 (£175) for an Oceanview balcony, upgrading from a GTY oceanview cabin.

The price was just over the minimum bid amount, and they were granted the Oceanview balcony a month before the sailing.

"Best value cruise so far!" Bazza wrote.

Read more: I spent $250 to upgrade my cruise ship cabin: Was it worth it?

Spacious panoramic oceanview—$30

Ampurp85 has played it close on their cruises: "I have only won on minimums, and I am 2/2 on winning bids."

On Mariner of the Seas, Ampurp85 bid the minimum of $30 per person for a Spacious panoramic oceanview and won, upgrading from an interior to the larger oceanview cabin.

At that time, they were Emerald status in the Crown and Anchor Society.

Oceanview balcony—$70

On an Oasis of the Seas cruise in 2023, Ampurp85 had made it to Diamond status and made another winning bid.

Originally, they were sailing in an interior cabin but decided to bid the minimum of $300 per person on an Oceanview balcony cabin.

However, the minimums later dropped, and Ampurp85 canceled that first bid, and placed the new minimum bid of $70 per person and "15 mins after I placed the new bid I had won."

Spacious balcony cabin—$200

User smost bid just a little above the minimum for a spacious balcony cabin.

They had initially booked an interior stateroom on Mariner of the Seas and decided to bid $200. At that time, the minimum was $160, so this price was just above the cheapest bid.

Read more: How can you win that Royal Up stateroom upgrade bid? It's pure luck

2 days before the sailing, they got the notification that they'd won the upgrade.

Grand Suite—$1,500

After first booking an oceanview balcony on Ovation of the Seas, Ryansox decided to bid for an upgrade.

He bid $1,000, the maximum bid for a Junior Suite, and expected to get that.

However, he also bid $1,500 for a Grand Suite, and "To our surprise, we won the Grand Suite."

Although that may sound like a steep price, Ryansox said that Grand Suites were going for $11,000 through actual bookings.

Instead of booking the Grand Suite directly, he got the room for around $5,000 altogether.

That meant all the benefits (except for double Crown and Anchor Society points) for less than half the price!

Junior Suite—$100

In preparation for a Greek Isles cruise in 2022, Va4fam decided to upgrade from an oceanview balcony.

The minimum bid was $90, and they went ahead and put down $100. With that nearly minimum bid, they won the Junior Suite!

"The rooms were spacious and had great balconies," Va4fam commented.

Oceanview with Large Balcony—$50 

FionaMG booked an oceanview guarantee cabin on Anthem of the Seas. After seeing that she'd been assigned a stateroom far forward, she bid the minimum amount for a different oceanview cabin.

By doing a mock booking on the website, she saw that there was more inventory left in the large balcony category, so decided to bid the minimum amount for an oceanview cabin with a large balcony.

More than a month before the sail date and just a few days after the bid, she received her acceptance through email.

Icon Loft Suite—$1,625

The most expensive suite on Icon of the Seas starts at around $2,000 a night per person.

jenushkask8s managed to get the Icon Loft Suite through a RoyalUp bid.

After booking a 1-bedroom Grand Suite, she bid the minimum amount of $1625 for the Icon Loft Suite.

The Grand Suites on Icon of the Seas are currently priced at around $1,090 per person, per day.

So jenushkask8s upgraded to the Icon Loft Suite for a price that saved her around $700 per day, per person.

I booked a cruise to one of the world’s most jaw-dropping destinations, but my balcony’s view was blocked by a bright orange lifeboat.

Would you ever book an obstructed view cabin on a cruise? These cabins, while identical to others on the inside, have a partially blocked view of the outdoors. Most commonly, the obstruction is caused by a lifeboat or other structural element on the ship.

Obstructed staterooms are frequently noted as “cabins to avoid” by cruise experts, and the partial view can be an unwelcome sight on a special vacation, especially if you didn’t expect it.

Having been on nearly thirty cruises, I always tried to avoid obstructed cabins. Yet on a recent 7-night cruise to Norway aboard Celebrity Silhouette, it was the only balcony option within my budget.

I figured any view was better than no view at all, so I gave it a shot as I sailed through Norway’s majestic fjords.

This is what it was really like to cruise in an obstructed balcony cabin, and whether or not I would do it again.

Originally I booked an interior cabin for my Norwegian fjords cruise. Five months before the sailing, I regretted my decision

As someone who cruises on a budget, I typically book interior cabins. While there’s nothing fancy about a closet-sized cabin without a window, the savings of the cheapest option are hard to beat.

When I originally booked my Celebrity Silhouette cruise to Norway, I booked an interior cabin for $1,830. The price included the cruise fare for two adults along with taxes, port fees, and gratuities.

Related: Inside cabin vs. balcony cabin on a cruise ship

While booking the cruise, I really wanted to book a balcony room, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t in the budget. I knew my cruise to Norway would incur additional expenses compared to a cruise departing from North America.

My airfare would be more expensive and, given the distance from home, I also wanted to budget for a few extra days in the Netherlands—the embarkation country—after the cruise ended. Additionally, Norway is one of the world’s most expensive destinations, so I needed to make sure I could budget for shore excursions, souvenirs, and food in port, too.

In the months leading up to my sailing, though, I started to regret my decision to be as cheap as possible. Cruises to Norway offer spectacular views not only in port, but also when sailing from place to place through the fjords.

I didn’t want to miss out on any of the beauty while in my windowless cabin, but I knew I wouldn’t want to spend the whole cruise on outdoor public decks, either.

Unfortunately, no regular balconies were available—my only economical choice was the obstructed option

I toyed with the idea of upgrading to a balcony for a few days, and I emailed my travel agent for options. Yet with just five months left before my sail date, she informed me that there were no more standard balcony cabins available.

Instead, I had two options.

The first was the obstructed cabin, which Celebrity calls a Partial View Veranda. For the week, this cabin would cost $2,686, or $856 extra compared to my interior cabin. It came with all the same amenities and perks as the cabin I already booked, aside from the addition of a balcony.

The second, and more expensive option, was a non-obstructed balcony cabin in Celebrity’s Aqua Class. At $3,723 for the week—$1,893 more than the interior room—the cabin included perks like meals at an exclusive restaurant, Blu, and complimentary access to the thermal suite.

Related: Celebrity Cruises guide: Ships, itineraries, tips & more

Still budget-conscious, the decision was a no-brainer for me. Paying $856 extra for an obstructed balcony didn’t seem outrageous. I figured that any view was worth it when cruising around somewhere as wonderful as Norway.

On embarkation day, I was worried the view would be completely blocked by a lifeboat

Obstructed view cabins vary greatly from cruise line to cruise line, and even from ship to ship within a particular line.

Sometimes there’s no telling how badly your view will be obstructed. Deck plans only tell you so much, and unless you’re lucky enough to find a video tour of your specific cabin online, you might be walking into the room blindly.

As I boarded Celebrity Silhouette in Rotterdam, I felt nervous. Would the $856 I spent on the Partial View Veranda be worth it, or would the view be completely ruined by an obstruction?

Fortunately, the view was less obstructed than I thought it would be

As I walked into cabin 6186 for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I could see from my obstructed view balcony.

As I expected, a lifeboat was in front of my balcony, but the balcony was a few feet higher than the lifeboat. Because of this, there were no major obstructions when standing on the balcony and looking toward the horizon.

Related: 8 reasons a balcony cabin is worth it to book on a cruise

Sitting on the balcony’s loungers, however, gave a more obstructed view—the lifeboats were directly in line with my eyesight. Additionally, looking straight down was not possible due to the lifeboat.

I did notice that the heights of the lifeboats differed from each other, and mine was slightly higher than the lifeboat next door.

Nevertheless, I was happy the view was only partially obstructed. Sure, that giant lifeboat would always be in view, but given its height, I felt confident it would never be completely in the way of Norway’s scenery.

Inside, I found the cabin cozy and spacious

Aside from the balcony, my cabin’s overall condition was excellent. The room had a good amount of walking space, but I wished there were more storage options and additional outlets to charge my electronics.

When I cruise in interior cabins, I try to spend as little time as possible in my room. There’s really no reason to hang out in a dark, windowless stateroom, so I'm usually in the cabin only to shower, sleep, and change.

Yet when I cruise in balcony cabins, I spend a lot of time in the room. I love having a private outdoor space to call my own, so much so that I have to force myself to leave the cabin to try other activities onboard.

Because of this, I was happy to see that my cabin on Celebrity Silhouette was relatively modern and well-kept. The light furnishings kept the room bright, and I loved having a sofa next to the balcony door so I could enjoy the views from the warmth of my room.

The bathroom was roomier than most cruise bathrooms I've stayed in, and because Celebrity is a premium cruise line, it came stocked with body wash, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.

Related: 7 bathroom hacks to use in your cruise ship cabin

I had minimal complaints with my cabin overall, but I wish the room had more storage space and better outlet locations.

Storage was limited, with only four drawers near the desk and two shelves above the bed (which I found hard to reach). There were no shelves in the closet, so it only worked for hanging clothing, making the space less functional. As far as outlets, the only ones in the cabin were near the desk, which was not convenient for charging my phone at night.

Despite the few faults, I was still happy with my choice to book an obstructed view cabin as we set sail toward Norway.

Having a balcony enhanced my Norwegian fjords experience, but the obstruction wasn’t totally ideal

As Celebrity Silhouette approached Norway, it was officially time to put my obstructed balcony cabin to the test. While I did not mind the slight obstruction on our first sea day, I was curious whether the lifeboat would seem more cumbersome while sailing through the Norwegian fjords.

After four port days in Norway, I came to the conclusion that the upgrade to a balcony was still worth it even if it came with a few downsides.

I won’t lie—if I sat on the chairs on my balcony, the view was more obstructed than I would have preferred. At eye level, most of my view was blocked by not only the lifeboat, but also the balcony railing.

Most of the time, therefore, I preferred standing near the railing to watch the scenery.

When doing so, I didn’t feel as if the lifeboat made my view any “worse” than what I could have seen with a regular balcony.

I also appreciated the natural light the balcony brought into the room, and watching the scenery from my bed was incredibly relaxing.

That being said, I still headed to the ship’s upper decks from time to time for a more complete view. Even though I had my own private balcony, there’s no denying that the outdoor decks provided a more panoramic view of the Norwegian fjords.

Whereas my balcony had views on one side of the ship, I could see scenery on both sides of the ship from Celebrity Silhouette’s upper decks. I could also take better landscape pictures from these decks, as the lifeboats were always in the way when I took photos from my balcony.

I wouldn’t hesitate to book an obstructed cabin again, but I’d pick a regular balcony first

All in all, the cabin was far less obstructed than I initially thought. While not everything was perfect about my Partial View Veranda, it was still a worthy investment. At $856 extra, upgrading from an interior room to the obstructed balcony wasn’t a budget-breaker, and it certainly enhanced my cruise overall.

If I had to pick between an obstructed balcony and a regular balcony, I would, without a doubt, choose a regular balcony. When checking prices on Celebrity’s website, I noticed that the price difference between the two cabin categories is often negligible. Sometimes, it’s even the same price!

I could see choosing the obstructed view if it were several hundred dollars cheaper, or if it was the only balcony option available. If a regular balcony was available for the same price, there would be no reason to book an obstructed view.

In my scenario, I didn’t have an option due to the fact that I decided to upgrade just a few months before my sail date. Even still, I do not have any regrets about booking the obstructed balcony cabin, and I would book it again if it were the only option.

Norway was even more stunning than I could have ever imagined, and I relished every opportunity I could to view the country’s extravagant landscapes—lifeboat in the way or not.

How do you top an already record setting cruise ship? Royal Caribbean has big plans for its next big ship to follow up on Icon of the Seas' incredible success.

Star of the Seas will launch in August 2025 and be the second Icon Class ship in the fleet. Royal Caribbean isn't content with making a carbon copy of Icon, as they've outlined key areas how the next ship will be different.

The new cruise ship will offer 7-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida to destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Just like Icon, Star will be packed with lots to do for everyone, leaning heavily into the family cruise segment.

Picking a homeport less than an hour from the tourist hub of Orlando is no coincidence. Royal Caribbean wants to bring the world's best family vacation to one of the biggest family markets.

Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, said his team took a deep dive into the incredible success of Icon of the Seas to find ways to go beyond that with Star, "we've looked at Star and we've kind of identified a series of big focus areas for us through that lens of ship destination and home port."

Doubling down on family

Royal Caribbean has made it no secret the Icon Class ships are positioned to be direct competition to land vacations in Orlando at Walt Disney World.

Star of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral in order to draw families away from a typical land trip and instead take a cruise.

Mr. Schneider said one goal has been making the family component of Star of the Seas even better for families, "the first focus area has been really doubling down on youth and family."

Surfside is an entire neighborhood designed with kids in mind and Royal Caribbean has a few ways they'll make it even better.

Fundamentally, they're going to make Surfside appeal to slightly older kids too.  Mr. Schneider said Icon's Surfside was meant for ages 0-6, but Star will bring that up to about 10.  That's because the area drew families with slightly older children.

Splashaway Bay and the Playscape will get new features, "more play activations really to kind of make kids of all ages happy with the offering."

The Water's Edge pool was originally meant to be an enclave for parents, but in practice has become an extension of the kids pool.

"What we found over time is it really is just expanded play for kids with parents, too. And so programmatically, we continue to lean in to that," Mr. Schneider said.

The kids clubs on Star of the Seas will get updates too. In addition to evolving the look and feel of Adventure Ocean, Mr. Schneider said there will be more "analog play" offered instead of relying on video and computerized games.

"While we're not taking anything away, one of the things we've heard is more analog play and so more kind of classic analog games," he said in talking about the impetus for the improvements.

Royal Caribbean will reboot the teen offerings to match what they're seeing in guests feedback.

Mr. Schneider said teens, "really want places to meet up and then kind of move around the ship to try to be more adults."

"We're rebooting based on that feedback the look and feel of the teen space and then reevaluating our programming for teens, how we activate them elsewhere in the ship as well."

Photo by Shannon Sinclair

Some other initiatives first introduced on Icon of the Seas will continue with Star of the Seas.  

The Kidfinder option will be rolled out of testing and into full offering on Star of the Seas. This is a waterproof bracelet that allows parents to track the bracelet's location via the Royal Caribbean app.

Fear not, Star of the Seas will have a family dog onboard, named Sailor.

Introducing facial recognition cabins

Royal Caribbean is going to test facial recognition stateroom doors on Star of the Seas.

This was an idea the cruise line had in play just before everything shutdown in 2020, but will get implemented in a small capacity on Star of the Seas.

Read more: Royal Caribbean patents facial recognition cruise ship cabin doors

Mr. Schneider said this will be a pilot program, and was not sure how many cabins will be equipped with it.

One other stateroom change is an update to the epic family suite on Star of the Seas, known as the Ultimate Family Townhouse.

This is the most expensive suite ever that covers three floors and has an in-suite slide, movie-viewing room, karaoke machine and a "backyard" with a ping pong table, outdoor seating and a white picket fence leading directly to the Surfside area.

Mr. Schneider said the townhouse will get an "uplift" and "will get really a new look to it."

Based on guest feedback so far on Icon, the cruise line felt changes were needed.

Upgrades to dining

Royal Caribbean has said the top two reasons people go on a cruise with them is for destination and food, and that drives a lot of the offerings on Star of the Seas.

There will be a sequel to the glitzy Empire Supper Club dining experience.  On Star, the focus will shift west to Chicago and become the Lincoln Park Supper Club.

"It's our flagship intimate fine dining entertainment concept [that] will bring forward that same formula that's worked so well in the Empire Supper Club. But again, themed menu, music, all paired to the Chicago and Chicagoland area."

Royal Caribbean also wants to improve on one of its most well-received complimentary venues, Aquadome Market.

On Icon of the Seas, it's located inside the ship’s AquaDome neighborhood, and offers five food stands offering everything from chicken pita wraps to bacon mac n’ cheese and a variety of paninis. 

"We're currently in the concept testing of how to evolve for Star, and eventually Icon Three, kind of the offering in the market," he said.

Don't worry, the fundamentals of the Aquadome Market won't change.  There will still be great complementary grab and go food served in a food hall.

One restaurant that will be overhauled is Pier 7. Mr. Schneider said called it, "a successful concept for us" but they want to keep it a "white space" to tinker with a new offering.

Located in the Surfside neighborhood, it serves California inspired cuisine and kids eat free there.

Mr. Schneider said they have not picked a final idea for the space yet, "We won't probably announce that until much closer in because we're going to do the same thing we did on Icon, which is we're going through the concepting as a result of it being a white space."

Read more: Royal Caribbean surveys customers for a new restaurant idea on its Icon class ships

Combining a new ship and a new beach club

When Star of the Seas launches, you can eventually look forward to cruises that take you to a day at Royal Caribbean's new beach club in Mexico.

Opening sometime in 2026, the Royal Beach Club Cozumel will be the second Royal Beach Club to open, following Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island in The Bahamas.

An extra cost beach available exclusively to Royal Caribbean passengers, admission will include access to swim-up bars, pools cabanas to rent, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets.

"We're excited about that kind of combination of new ship, new homeport and then... the continued expansion of our destination product."

More tweaks and enhancements

Mr. Schneider highlighted a few other improvements Royal Caribbean has planned for Star compared to Icon.

The Pearl will be improved to be more spectacular visually, "instead of a single color light ring in the back of each of those 3500 plus tiles, they go to full multicolor rings."

"That allows us to get a much richer color, wash throughout the entire Pearl, and gives us kind of a broader canvas to play with as we think of the stories that we want to tell."

There will also be more more pool space on Star. That's because Mr. Schneider's team was worried about "water weight", but it's practical to add it back, "we are adding a little bit of incremental water weight back in a hot tub that will be adjacent between Lime and Coconut, and the Aquadome Market that was originally planned on being there, but got pulled at the last minute due to water weight."

"It turns out we had enough weight to play with, and that was my quick ten minute, maybe longer run through of our our focus areas."

"The world's best family vacation was never about size for us"

Star of the Seas won't be slightly larger than Icon of the Seas, and Royal Caribbean doesn't necessarily care about that title.

When asked about if Star will be bigger than Icon, Mr. Schneider talked about the importance of what the ship offers rather than dimensions, "that's never been a focus for us. The world's best family vacation was never about size for us. It still isn't."

"The reality is the things that we expected in our kind of hyper focused guest research needs, we've continued to look at through the lens of what we're actually seeing in operation. And all of it is, is just working so well."

He sees tremendous success with how Royal Caribbean has positioned its Icon Class ships to offer the very best experience, and offering many ways for families to bond and create memories.

The Product Development team focuses on the diverse options for guests to enjoy onboard, and while that may move the needle to require a bigger cruise ship, it's not simply size.