Hilarious TikTok shows how much teenage boy can eat on his cruise ship

In:
24 Jul 2024
By: 
Allie Hubers

Many would agree that one of the highlights of cruising is indulging in all of the delicious cuisine while onboard. While there are specialty dining options on virtually every cruise ship, you can always enjoy unlimited, complimentary food during your sailing. From the buffet to the main dining room, you certainly won’t go hungry while vacationing on a cruise ship.

TikTok

But, how much would you eat on a cruise if you had the metabolism of a 17-year-old teenager?

A recent viral TikTok from Kyleigh Ryan (@kyleigh.pate) shows just how much a teenage boy can eat in one day on a cruise. The video has been viewed more than 4.7 million times - garnering around 9,000 comments and nearly 500k likes from viewers. Ryan's viral video is likely inspired by the TikTok trend where siblings share what their teenage brothers eat in a day. 

In the video, Ryan chronicles her brother’s meals and snacks throughout his cruise day, meticulously keeping track of everything he ate for the TikTok. As you might imagine, the 17-year-old certainly got his money’s worth just in cruise food.

Ryan captioned the TikTok, “What my 17-year-old brother eats in a day on our cruise.” She also included in the captions that simply making the video made her nauseous. Ryan tagged Royal Caribbean in the video, although she does not specify which ship she is sailing on with her family.

The hilarious TikTok was posted to social media earlier this month, presumably during a family vacation. The tagged location on the TikTok is Galveston, Texas, and appears to be Mariner of the Seas. Of course, it should also be noted that the sentiment of this TikTok is clearly lighthearted and not meant to be shaming or judgmental.

Here’s everything that the 17-year-old enjoyed during his cruise day, in the order shown in the viral video.

Breakfast

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day - and Ryan’s brother certainly started his day with a bang. The beginning of Ryan’s viral TikTok shows her and her brother dining at the Windjammer buffet for breakfast onboard their Royal Caribbean cruise.

The Windjammer is Royal Caribbean’s standard buffet that serves meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During the TikTok, Ryan’s brother makes three separate trips to the buffet for his breakfast.

During breakfast, the 17-year-old makes a few trips to the buffet. It looks to be a sea day onboard the ship, as the TikTok never shows the family disembark the ship. More time onboard means more opportunities to indulge in all of the cuisine!

Ryan documents her brother with each trip to and from the Windjammer buffet, which is actually recommended on a cruise to reduce waste, as it’s easy to overload your plate. One can appreciate the teen’s conscientious efforts to not be wasteful!

Here’s what the 17-year-old had for breakfast, according to the viral TikTok:

  • 3 slices of French toast
  • 2 donuts
  • A plate of bacon
  • Hashbrowns
  • 3 more slices of French toast
  • 2 sausage links
  • A chocolate croissant
  • 1 more donut
  • 2 glasses of apple juice

Lunch

Before lunch, Ryan shows a clip of her brother having his first ice cream cone on the pool deck. One of the quintessential treats on a Royal Caribbean is a soft-serve ice cream cone! Although popular with all guests onboard, the soft-serve machine is particularly popular with kids and teens. Who doesn’t want unlimited ice cream on vacation - it’s a kid’s dream!

For lunch, the 17-year-old takes a trip to Sorrento’s onboard. This is Royal Caribbean’s complimentary pizza, serving up fresh slices throughout the day and into the late night. Ryan shows her brother taking three separate trips up to the counter for lunch, in which the teen eats the following:

  • 2 slices of pepperoni pizza
  • 2 more slices of pepperoni pizza
  • 2 final slices of pepperoni pizza

After indulging at Sorrento’s for lunch, the teen heads back to the pool deck. Ryan shows her brother having two more ice cream cones from the soft-serve machine.

Dinner

The TikTok continues by showing the teenager enjoying dinner in the main dining room, presumably with Ryan and their family. On Royal Caribbean ships, the main dining room serves multi-course meals, which are included in each guest’s cruise fare. The main dining room also serves sit-down meals for breakfast and lunch depending on the sailing’s itinerary.

Each evening in the main dining room features a different themed menu. Ryan shows her brother’s dining room order, including the following appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Based on the 17-year-old’s selections shown in the TikTok, it appears to be Italian night in the dining room.

The teenager didn’t hold back with his dining room order, indulging in the following meal for dinner:

  • 2 cheddar bread rolls with butter
  • 2 glasses of lemonade
  • 1 more cheddar roll with butter
  • Arancini appetizer
  • 2 steaks with baked potato and broccoli
  • Chocolate dessert with ice cream
  • Lemon tart

Late Night Snack

After dinner, Ryan shows her brother making another trip back to Sorrento’s for a late-night bite of pizza. She captions the ending of her TikTok, “Went back that night because he was hungry again.”

At the end of the TikTok, Ryan shows her brother indulging in four final slices of pizza before calling it a night. To be fair, there is nothing quite like Sorrento’s pizza to end your night on a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Response from viewers

Ryan’s viral TikTok has become overwhelmingly popular with viewers on the social media app. The video has surpassed 9,000 comments, mostly with commenters appreciating the teenager’s eating tenacity!

“If I paid for his cruise, he’s the one I’m feeling good about having got my money’s worth!” said the top response in the TikTok’s comment section. This top comment has received over 81.4k likes from other viewers!

Another top response - which has received 32k likes - said, “I ain’t mad at him. He CLEARLY knows how to enjoy a cruise.”

Similarly, many viewers agreed with the sentiment that the 17-year-old is getting his money’s worth. One commenter writes, “Note to self: take my twins on a cruise when they’re 16 to save on groceries” while another responds, “It’s cheaper to take your teenage boys on cruises than grocery shopping these days!”

“I am expecting my 16-year-old to eat our money’s worth on our cruise in December!” responded one user on the viral video. Another user agreed, “Have two teenage boys. Can confirm they eat like this.”

Jewel

In the same way, another commenter stated, “Just got back from a cruise with my 14-year-old son and he ate 24 slices of pizza and 7 ice cream cones, in addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner one day. I felt like it was a good value at least lol.”

Another parent chimes in, “As the parent of a teenage boy, I see what our next vacation is gonna be. That alone would justify the cost of the cruise!”

“My 18-year-old ate his weight in soft serve daily on our 8-day cruise. The food he consumed balanced the cost of his room,” writes another commenter. 

Along with these remarks, many of the commenters mention how they are envious of the teen’s metabolism. One of the top comments with 33.6k likes reads, “I have metabolism envy!”

“Cries in bad metabolism,” responds another viewer jokingly.

What food is included on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Main Dining Room

All of the food in Ryan’s TikTok is included in the cost of a Royal Caribbean cruise. Each ship features a combination of for-fee specialty dining and complimentary dining options.

To start, all of Royal Caribbean’s ships provide a Windjammer buffet, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. There are multiple buffet stations with a range of cuisine options - everything from hot dogs and hamburgers to Indian curry and Italian pasta.

Moreover, each ship in the fleet has at least one main dining room for dinner and breakfast each day with multi-course meals. The main dining room is a classic, traditional cruise ship dining experience.

You can choose between My Time Dining or set dining time (early or late). In the main dining room, you’ll receive a menu each evening with appetizers, entrees, and desserts to order. Guests can essentially order as much as they want in the dining room.

Royal Caribbean’s ships also typically feature a grab-and-go cafe with snacks, sandwiches, and salads. These quick-service dining options are often named Cafe Promenade, Park Cafe, Pearl Cafe, or Cafe Lattitudes, depending on which ship you are sailing on. Sorrento’s is Royal Caribbean’s pizza parlor, which serves pizza throughout the day on your cruise.

Finally, some of Royal Caribbean’s ships also have poolside dining options like El Loco Fresh for Mexican and Boardwalk Dog House for hot dogs. These are also grab-and-go style dining options so you can get a quick bite to eat and eat right on the pool deck.

As for drinks, your Royal Caribbean cruise fare includes basic beverages, excluding alcohol. This includes water, lemonade, tea, juices (not freshly squeezed), drip coffee, tea, milk, and flavored waters.

Specialty dining options are available for a surcharge on Royal Caribbean’s ships. These include restaurants like Chops Grille Steakhouse, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen or Table, Izumi Sushi and Teppanyaki, Jamie’s Italian, Playmakers Sports Bar, and 150 Central Park. Specialty dining experiences are also available for an extra fee, including Chef’s Table, Royal Railway Utopia Station, Wonderland, and Empire Supper Club.

Photos show the latest progress on Royal Beach Club in Nassau

In:
23 Jul 2024
By: 
Calista Kiper

Royal Caribbean has made visible progress in building its new private Beach Club in the Bahamas.

While visiting Nassau, Bahamas on Utopia of the Seas this weekend, our team took photos of the construction work being done on Paradise Island.

On a strip of land previously covered by palm trees and thick sand, excavators are clearing the ground, and trucks bringing in supplies. 

Paradise Island, the narrow strip of land near Nassau's cruise port, will house a 17-acre piece of land dedicated to Royal Caribbean's private club.

Royal Caribbean announced that the Royal Beach Club will open sometime in 2025, with "more details to be revealed in the coming months."

Based on our team's photos, the land has been cleared to begin building.

Where trees, logs, and dirt once stood, now the cleared ground is prepared for what will be multiple structures that make up the beach club.

Although no actual building has begun, construction workers brought in supplies such as steel poles, large water tanks, and packs of metal or wire.

Although it's unclear what purpose these supplies serve, the steel beams could make up foundations for the buildings, and packets of wire perhaps serve as material for constructing fences.

Although the curved white building pictured is not new, its steady presence and open doors could indicate that it serves a purpose in construction, or will become part of the new Beach Club.

Packets of supplies to the right of the white building are also tools for the cruise line to use in building the beach club.

Royal Caribbean is partnering with the Bahamas to build this exclusive club, intending to incorporate the island's vibrant culture into architecture, food, and live music.  

Royal Caribbean announced that cruisers who visit the private club "will be welcomed by local architecture that complements the exceptional views of The Bahamas’ turquoise-blue waters and white sand beaches, along with experiences that feature Bahamian fare, island-style barbecues, live music, and local artisans."

Read moreRoyal Caribbean breaks ground on new beach club in Bahamas reserved for its passengers

Further down the island, palm trees remain alongside a possible dock site.

The beach club has been marketed as a world-class destination experience.

Cruisers can expect to pay an extra cost for entrance to the exclusive venue.

Much like the adults-only Hideaway Beach on Perfect Day at CocoCay, guests may pay a single entrance fee to access the area.

Read moreRoyal Beach Club at Paradise Island: What you should know before it opens

The entrance fee could include access to the exclusive venue, lunch, and a beach chair.

Royal Caribbean's plans for the Royal Beach Club include a family zone, arrivals area, water sports center, food area, and one or more swimming pools.

In fact, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley confirmed the beach club will have the largest swim up bar in the world.

"Next year we'll be opening the Royal Beach Club in the Bahamas," Mr. Bayley said at a meeting with members of the press on Utopia of the Seas. "We're kind of hoping we're going to have the largest swim up bar in the world. Can you imagine that?"

It's unknown yet exactly what activities will be offered, but there will be various options to consider.

I stayed in a two-story suite on Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship. It's pricey, but the second bathroom and perks are worth the cost

In:
23 Jul 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas has many types of cabins and suites, and I booked the inaugural sailing in a Crown Loft Suite with my family.

Crown Loft Suite

Suites are never cheap, but they do come with perks that help make the cost more palatable.  They're a luxury, and not about necessarily the best value you can find.

For the first sailing of Royal Caribbean's brand new cruise ship, I wanted a cabin for my family that had enough room for everyone, and most importantly, a second full bathroom. Plus, I wanted to be able to experience the suite amenities on the ship because we often get a lot of questions about what the suite areas are like on a new ship.

The Crown Loft Suite is a two-level suite that offers the mid-tier suite benefits, which includes access to the a private lounge, reserved seating at shows, and concierge services. 

The price is steep compared to regular cabins

Crown Loft Suite living room

A suite on a Royal Caribbean ship will almost certainly cost significantly more than a balcony room, especially on a brand new ship like Utopia of the Seas.

I booked the cabin on the day Royal Caribbean opened bookings up for Utopia, and it cost $10,784.52 for the four of us on the inaugural 3-night cruise.  

To put that in comparison, two people in an oceanview balcony guarantee cabin on the same sailing cost $2223.

At 670 square feet, the Crown Loft Suite is almost four times bigger than a balcony

Crown Loft Suite

One big thing you'll notice quickly about a suite is just how much space you get.

That oceanview balcony cabin I compared earlier is nearly 4 times smaller than the Crown Loft Suite, and has one less bathroom.

Cruise ship cabins are notoriously small to begin with, so a suite is one way you could spread out and not feel as cramped.

It also has a big balcony

Crown Loft Suite balcony

In addition to the 670 square feet of living space, you get an additional 105 square foot balcony.

The balcony comes with two plus chairs and ottomans, which are great for lounging. There's a small table too, so you can order room service to be delivered right to your balcony.

The extra large balcony space means everyone can fit on it for sailaway, or even have friends come to visit.

No complaints of cramped cabins here

Stairs in Loft suite

One thing someone new to cruising might notice is how much smaller cruise ship cabins are compared to hotel rooms. With a suite, that's not much of an issue.

Dining room table

The lower level has a living room with couch, large screen television, chairs, and even a dining room table that can seat four.

The couch can be opened up to become a bed, meaning two more people can sleep there.

The suite also has a wet bar

Wet bar

We had a bottle of champagne waiting for us upon entry into the suite as a welcome gift on the wet bar, and it's where you can store all your drinks.

While the suite does not include drinks as part of the cost, if you bring any drinks back to the room, you can store them there.  This is true of the complimentary Crown and Anchor beverages we receive as part of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program benefits.

There's also a complimentary coffee machine you can use.

The TV could pull down toward the king-sized bed

Master bedroom

On the upper level is the master bedroom, which overlooks the lower level.

There's a privacy curtain that you can extend to not only section off the master bedroom, but also make it darker.

The television descends from the ceiling and can retract with the push of a button.

The master bathroom is large and has a shower and a tub

Master Bathroom in Crown Loft Suite

Suites have large bathrooms, including a shower and a tub.  This is a favorite feature for many why they upgrade to a suite.

There's only one mirror and sink (some of the bigger suites have two in their master bathroom), but there's enough counter space for two people's toiletries.

The second bathroom makes sharing the cabin much better

Loft suite bathroom

I booked this particular suite over other suites because it has a full second bathroom.

Located on the lower level near the entrance, it's great for whomever is sleeping on the lower level.  Or if you're planning to entertain in your suite, another place for guests to use instead of your bathroom.

A closet with more storage space than you need

Closet

There's more closet and storage space than you'll find on most cruise ships, and certainly more than enough space for a short weekend cruise.

The master bedroom closet has two sliding doors to provide lots of hangers, in addition to shelves recessed inside the closet.

The closet is also where you'll find the safe.

Next to the closet is a vanity with large mirror.

There were so many USB outlets

Nightstand

Cruise ships have finally gotten the memo that passengers want to be able to easily plug-in their devices without having to buy special adaptors. 

Read more: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

Equally impressive is you can control the room television, curtains, and air conditioning from the Royal Caribbean app. There are physical controls too, but I loved being able to open the blinds from my bed with my phone.

Many perks are included with the suite stay

Coastal Kitchen on Utopia of the Seas

While the suite is impressive, it comes with even better amenities that I think are what justify the cost for a lot of cruisers.

Here's a list of the top Sky Class benefits: 

  • Concierge Service
  • All Day Access to Coastal Kitchen
  • Specialty Bottled Water (upon arrival)
  • Complimentary internet access for every person in the suite
  • Flexible Arrival Boarding & Priority Departure
  • Priority Dining Reservations
  • Venues Early Access to Seating in Select Entertainment Venues
  • Suite Lounge Access (complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktails each evening)
  • Access to Suite Sun Deck
  • Royal Caribbean Plush Bathrobes for Use Onboard
  • Luxury Pillow Top Mattress
  • Luxury Bathroom Amenities
  • Lavazza Espresso Coffee Machine

The suite lounge and suite sun deck are the best amenities, given how much value they provide.

Suite Sun deck on Utopia of the Seas

I think the suite sun deck on Utopia of the Seas (and Wonder of the Seas) is Royal Caribbean's best suite sun deck on any ship. There's a bar, seating in the sun and shade, and a terrific pool to cool down in.  It's rarely busy, and a favorite spot to do work from.

Moreover, the suite concierge can do a lot, especially pre-cruise. They can book show and dining reservations before you get onboard, and they are very helpful with billing issues.

Reserved seating for suite guests

Sky Class suites come with a complimentary one-device internet package for everyone in the suite, which saves a couple hundred dollars for a family.

Is a Crown Loft Suite worth the price tag?

Bed in Crown Loft Suite

It's undoubtedly a steep cost to stay in one of these suites, but having a full second bathroom and the array of Sky Class benefits was a lovely way to cruise with my family.

I booked this suite partly because I wanted to have a stateroom with enough space for my family, and partly because I wanted to experience the suite options on Royal Caribbean's newest ship.

The combination of sailing on a brand new ship and on its inaugural voyage meant I was never going to get a low price on the fare, so bargain hunters will likely never see the value in this booking.

Ultimately, I think it's a good choice for a family or friends looking to stay in a cabin with upgraded amenities and a second bathroom.  Plus, the location on deck 18 was very convenient to the ship's Suite Neighborhood.

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

In:
22 Jul 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Royal Caribbean might be considering going in a different direction with one of its new restaurants that was launched earlier this year.

Surveys have been sent out to select past cruisers to gauge their interest in a new specialty restaurant concept to potentially replace Pier 7 on Icon of the Seas.

To be clear, no change or announced has been officially announced. Surveys are just an opportunity to gather an opinion, and often lead to no change.

Pier 7 is currently on Icon of the Seas in the family-friendly Surfside neighborhood. 

It was the first time the restaurant was offered on a Royal Caribbean ship and represents one of 20 new ways to eat on Icon of the Seas.

Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

pier-7-icon-specialty

The restaurant comes at an extra-cost for adults and has served up cruiser favorites like Korean fried chicken and Budha bowls.

However, Royal Caribbean is now looking at other options for Surfside neighborhood.

The survey includes a total of six new venue concepts, with each offering a different twist on updating Pier 7.

The survey presents six new restaurant concepts

Korean chicken

The survey that was sent out to select cruisers asked respondents to rate potential venues in Surfside.

These fleshed-out concepts would come at an extra cost, the survey said.

Respondents were asked to select the one venue they would be most likely to visit.

Read more: Royal Caribbean reveals new restaurants, bars, and activities on Icon of the Seas

Pier 7 by Momofuku

Immerse yourself in Asian fusion flavors crafted by Momofuku at our laid-back, casual quick-service restaurant (i.e. order at the counter with seating available). Surrounded by vibrant colors and street art, enjoy comfort dishes ranging from hearty bowls to Korean crunchy fried chicken sandwiches, perfect for those on the go. 

Sample Dishes: Fried chicken sandwich, Poke Bowl, Bao Buns 

Sweet 7

Get a sweet pick-me-up treat while you lounge and play around Surfside. Sweet 7 is a fun colorful quick service cafe (i.e. order at the counter with seating available) offering snacks and desserts. From fresh acai bowls to colorful popsicles to fruity smoothies, there's something for everyone. 

Sample Dishes: Acai Bowl, Popsicles, Ice Cream Sandwiches 

The Surfshack

Surfside Eatery

Dive into poolside perfection at The Surfshack, our quick-service restaurant (i.e. order at the counter with seating available) offering made-to-order favorites for any time of day. Start your morning with fresh smoothies and acai bowls, or enjoy afternoon classics like lobster rolls, fried chicken sandwiches, and fish tacos. Featuring a vibrant color palette and casual seating, The Surfshack is the ideal spot for a pool day snack or a play pitstop. 

Sample Dishes: Acai Bowl, Poke Bowl, Lobster Roll 

Play Cafe

Enjoy a fun play-centric lounge featuring a quick service window (i.e. order at the counter with lounge seating available) offering snacks and refreshing drinks. Adults can relax and sip on iced coffee or smoothies while kids play with the seating's built-in toys. Indulge in delicious offerings like donuts and fresh sandwiches, making it the perfect spot for a family-friendly break. 

Sample Dishes: Iced Latte, Bacon-egg-cheese croissant sandwich, smoothies 

Pier 7

Pier 7

Inspired by beach towns and chill vibes, Pier 7 is a casual sit-down restaurant featuring modern seafood dishes. Parents can enjoy a tuna poke bowl, shrimp tostadas, and fish tacos while watching kids play in the nearby splash pad and playscape. Kids have their choice of classic favorites such as chicken tenders and grilled cheese. 

Sample Dishes: Shrimp Tostada, Baja Fish Tacos, Whipped Ricotta Bruschetta 

Surfside Kitchen and Surfside Village

Step into a whimsical surf town of make-believe with our immersive family experience, combining culinary adventures and wacky arts and crafts. At Surfside Kitchen, families can customize sweet and savory dishes, from rainbow grilled cheese to candy sushi.

Do guests prefer sit-down or speedy dining?

Surfside

The survey goes on to ask respondents to imagine they are visiting Surfside with their travel group and want to take a break from the main attractions. In and around Surfside, there are various restaurants and activities the group could enjoy. 

Thinking about the groups you are traveling with, please indicate your preferences for the types of restaurants or activities you would like to visit while taking a break in Surfside.

Respondents can select between quick bites, sit-down dining, or a mix of both.

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

Surfside neighborhood

Then, the survey asks respondents to rate specific restaurant brands based on how familiar they are.

Cruisers can select one of four options regarding the brand: 

  1. I eat from this brand often
  2. I have eaten from this brand before, but not frequently
  3. I have never eaten from this brand, but have heard of it
  4. I had not heard of this brand
Asian-style-pork-bao-tacos-mdr-food

The 12 brands listed are as follows:

  • PF Chang's
  • Milk Bar
  • Sweetgreen
  • Applebees
  • Chilis
  • Momofuku
  • Bonchon Chicken
  • Morimoto
  • Qdoba
  • Benihana
  • Wagamama
  • Peiwei

Seven of these 12 brands serve Asian cuisine, so Royal Caribbean could be considering replacing Pier 7, which currently serves Californian dishes, with a specifically Asian restaurant.

Surfside neighborhood caters to young families

Splashaway Bay on Freedom of the Seas

Icon of the Seas introduced Surfside neighborhood as an area dedicated to families and young children.

The cruise line has always aimed to provide stellar family vacations.

Surfside neighborhood has a variety of arcade games, water experiences, and dining options, so no one has to compromise.

The vibrant designs, creative amenities, and relaxing atmosphere provide the perfect experience for multiple generations.

Star of the Seas concept art

Star of the Seas, the second Icon-class ship, is set to be released in the summer of 2025, and will likely mimic Icon's eight neighborhoods.

However, considering the survey sent to cruisers this week, the Pier 7 on Star of the Seas (or the third, unnamed Icon-Class ship) could be replaced by a different specialty restaurant.

Read more: Royal Caribbean will homeport Star of the Seas in Port Canaveral

pier-7-icon

Pier 7 has served up "California-inspired" cuisine and is complimentary for kids under the age of 12.

Adults pay a cover charge of $14.99 for two plates. The venue serves rice bowls, surf-and-turf tacos, smoked salmon benedict, Korean fried chicken, and shareable platters for the whole family.

Should the restaurant be replaced, it looks like Royal Caribbean is considering Asian cuisine, or partnering with well-known brands such as PF Chang's or Sweetgreen.

New Royal Caribbean cruise ship sets sail. It's a cruise so nice you'll want to sail it twice

In:
22 Jul 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

You know what's better than a cruise on Royal Caribbean's mega ships? Going back and doing it again.

Utopia of the Seas sailing away from Port Canaveral

Photo by Adam Hancock

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas has begun sailing with passengers onboard, and after experiencing it for myself for 3 days on a preview sailing, I'm ready to go back again and again.

The new ship is doing just 3- and 4-night short cruises, which not only makes it not only appealing to someone who might be tepid about trying a cruise, but perfect for doubling down and doing a back-to-back sailing.

While Utopia is already the sixth ship in the Oasis Class, Royal Caribbean has truly perfected its craft with this latest version of the popular mega ships.

Matt in central park

I've spent nearly a week on Utopia of the Seas so far, and it's clear to me when you try Utopia, there's a good chance you're going to want to come back again for more.

Party and chill

Pool deck

Don't let the marketing fool you, Utopia is as fun-filled or slow-paced as you want it to be.

Royal Caribbean is marketing Utopia of the Seas as "The World's Biggest Weekend" and that is signified with all the parties and things to do onboard. It's a well-earned distinction, because there are indeed way more parties and events I can recall seeing on a Royal Caribbean ship.

As someone that cruises a lot, I can appreciate the new choices in how to stay up and party the night away. Toga parties, college flip cup games, more DJ music than I have ever seen, and so many bars to visit. There's a lot to choose from.

toga party

When you look over the schedule of events, there's simply more to do than you can fit into a single weekend, assuming you want to sleep a bit too. 

Royal Caribbean Vice President of Entertainment, Christi Coachman, talked about how they planned the entertainment to be methodically planned, "It was really important not only to continue to create the family experiences, because that's very important for our brand, but also to go in a little bit of a different direction and have one party after the other to where you don't ever stop."

"Utopia is a taste, right? A taste of what possibly you could experience on maybe a maybe a longer itinerary."

party

I found great relief in being able to stay onboard for more than one sailing, as it allowed me to spread out my activities and do more without a sense of "FOMO" every night.

Speaking of the parties, while there are indeed many new party events, none of them are so vastly different that you'll feel out of place.

college party

A great example is the Royal Kappa-Chi event, which is a fraternity-themed party. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was so much more enjoyable than I had planned.

Held in The Attic, there were a number of tables set up for beer pong, but lots more seats around for those that wanted to observe. I think most people just wanted to be in the atmosphere than actually play, and it made it so much more inviting to everyone.

I summoned the courage to play a game of beer pong, and it was something I never thought I'd do on a cruise ship.

A lot of ways to spend your time on just one sailing

Utopia and Allure

If you go through and list all the things you absolutely want to do on Utopia of the Seas, and then add the things you'd like to do, I'll bet your list exceeds the amount of free time you think you'll have.

There's so many fun activities, and when you add in time at the cruise line's private island in The Bahamas or even a shore excursion in Nassau, and you are going to quickly start rationalizing one activity over the other.

Royal Caribbean may have wanted Utopia of the Seas to be the ultimate party ship, but it also came up with the ultimate FOMO ship.

Family at Thrill Waterpark

This is part of the cruise line's strategy to dominate the weekend cruise market by combining a great new cruise ship with great places to visit.

Read more: Royal Caribbean has a plan to dominate short cruises

While parties might be the focus for Utopia, great dining isn't far behind.

Royal Railway table

There are new restaurants and revamped offerings as well, and they all are worth your precious vacation time.

Royal Railway is an innovative offering that has garnered a lot of attention, and it's lead to high demand to get a coveted spot. The use of technology, story telling, and great food was so compelling, I booked another seating so I could take my family to experience it.

Both Izumi and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen have new locations on Utopia, and then you have an assortment of tried-and-true dining choices.  

Two sailings to see it all

Slides on Utopia of the Seas

If you think there's simply not enough time to do everything on Utopia of the Seas, you're not wrong.

Royal Caribbean purposefully adds so many activities, shows, and dining choices on purpose so guests have a choice in how they vacation. But to have enough time to experience everything, you might want to turn that weekend cruise into a full week.

Booking a "back-to-back" cruise is when you reserve two consecutive cruises in a row, and I'm glad I did just that so I have enough time for everything.

Utopia of the Seas

One of the top complaints about Utopia of the Seas is the fact she only sails 3- and 4-night cruises instead of 7-night cruises.  Booking two sailings means you get more value for your flight (albeit without any variation in ports of call).

Whether you book two cruises in a row, or decide to book a second sailing some other time, I think you'll see a need to come back for more. After all, that's part of Royal Caribbean's plan to entice those who have never cruised before to come back and sail again.

Royal Caribbean News Round-up: July 21, 2024

In:
21 Jul 2024
By: 
Calista Kiper

Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!

Window on Royal Railway

Matt tried the newest cruise ship dining experience on Utopia of the Seas: the Royal Railway.

The Wild-West-themed train car hosts a one-of-a-kind dining and entertainment experience.

The unique and visually stunning venue was unlike any other specialty restaurant he'd tried. Royal Caribbean's Royal Railway Utopia Station pushes the envelope of what's possible on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean News

New RCB Video: Everything I loved and hated about the world’s newest cruise ship

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 — Everything I loved and hated about the world’s newest cruise ship — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Meghan Trainor christens new cruise ship

Meghan Trainor on Utopia of the Seas

Meghan Trainor, famous singer-songwriter, American Idol judge, and Godmother of Utopia of the Seas, helped christen the new cruise ship on Monday.

The newest and second biggest cruise ship in the world, which launched on its inaugural cruise this weekend, hosted a launch party with Ms. Trainor present.

She helped break a bottle of champagne against the bow, a tradition meant to bring good luck to the vessel and its passengers.

Curfew for kids on a cruise ship? Royal Caribbean CEO wants to revisit the policy

An increased amount of cruisers are starting to complain about out-of-control kids onboard Royal Caribbean ships.

At a talk on Utopia of the Seas, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International president and CEO, admitted that it could be time for the cruise line to review its policies.

To help adults enjoy a more peaceful vacation, Royal Caribbean will be revisiting its kid's curfew policy and Adventure Ocean activities.

Weekend cruises: Tips for taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean getaway

Utopia of the Seas at CocoCay

Looking to save money and PTO hours? 

A 3-night weekend cruise provides the opportunity to take a short but sweet vacation.

To help you decide on a ship, destination, and budget, we've compiled some tips for taking a Royal Caribbean weekend cruise.

I spent $2,223 for 3 nights in a 191-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin

In:
20 Jul 2024
By: 
Angie Vognild

I was lucky enough to cruise on the inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. While onboard this weekend cruise, I got to experience everything this sixth Oasis Class ship has to offer, including the beautiful staterooms.

utopia of the seas balcony cabin

Back in early November, my fellow Royal Caribbean Blog co-worker and I booked a guarantee balcony for $2,223 for three nights. This included prepaid gratuities for two people. Approaching the sail date, Royal Caribbean assigned us cabin 10198, a balcony on deck 10, midship.

Cabin 10198
Utopia cabin signage

This oceanview balcony has a larger balcony than a standard balcony onboard. For context, I stayed in a standard oceanview balcony during a preview cruise on Utopia of the Seas the week prior, and the balcony was 50 square feet. In this cabin (appropriately named an “oceanview with large balcony”), the balcony is 80 square feet. The extra 30 square feet is seen in how long the balcony is.

utopia of the seas balcony cabin

The living area of the cabin totaled 191 square feet.

Walking into the cabin for the first time, I was in awe of how pretty it was. There were accents of blue throughout the cabin, from the carpet and the blinds to the headboard and pillows. Even all the doors in the hallway are blue.

Utopia of the seas hallway
Door to the cabin

The first thing you see when walking into the cabin is the light switch and slot where you place your Seapass card to generate power. Without a card in this slot, there will be no electricity or air conditioning in the cabin. On this sailing, there was already a card there. Oftentimes, I use an old Seapass card to put in this slot, but I didn't need to do that on this cruise.

Key slot in the cabin
Temperature control in the Balcony Cabin on Utopia of the Seas

On the opposite side is a full-length mirror that is near the vanity area. The vanity is quite spacious and includes many outlets, including two European outlets, one USB outlet, one USB-C outlet, and three standard U.S. outlets. The chair is also comfortable, as I found myself sitting in it while using my laptop or looking at the Cruise Compass.

Vanity and mirror
Utopia of the Seas outlets

Attached to the vanity is a large dresser. There are five drawers, including one on top of the mini cooler. The drawers were deep enough to place my packing cubes.

Utopia dresser options
Utopia of the Seas drawers
Drawer with clothes

I hardly ever used the mini cooler, but it’s always handy to have one just in case!

Utopia of the Seas mini cooler

I thought the wall above the dresser felt empty. I wish there was a floating shelf or a piece of artwork here. To make use of this space, I used magnetic hooks to hang up some cruise paperwork so it didn't clutter up the vanity.

Space above dresser

Across from the vanity and dresser were the couch and closets. This couch can be transformed into a double sofa bed, making the cabin able to fit four people.

Utopia of the Seas closets and couch

On both sides of the couch was a closet. One closet was wide open and contained 20 hangers to hang up long outfits like dresses and jumpsuits. This closet can even store your suitcase, backpack, and other luggage.

Utopia of the Seas closet

The second closet had five shelves along with a safe to store valuables. There was also a small area to hang up a few long outfits. Below this closet were two large drawers. I used one of these drawers for my shoes.

Utopia of the Seas closet with shelves

I really appreciated having two large closets on this new cruise ship. While on Icon of the Seas, I was surprised at how small the closet area was. There was enough space for me since I was traveling alone, but with more than one person, I think the storage would've been lacking. On Utopia of the Seas, you won't have to worry about running out of storage space, as there was plenty for the two of us. Having two closets is a game-changer!

utopia of the seas balcony cabin

Next to the balcony was the “bedroom.” The king bed can be split into two twin beds (as seen below).

Utopia bedroom
Utopia beds split into two

Each of us had a small nightstand next to the bed. On top of both nightstands was a light that had a U.S. charging outlet and a USB outlet. This was perfect for charging my phone and watch while I was sleeping, and I could easily see what time it was by checking my phone. Each nightstand had two shelves for additional items that you would need close to you while in bed.

Nightstand

On one nightstand was the cabin’s phone which took up the majority of the top shelf. This was easy to move to one of the bottom shelves. On this side of the bed, there's a light switch that controls all of the lights in the cabin.

Utopia table with phone

Across from the bed was a large flatscreen TV. The one time I turned on the TV, I noticed there was not an option to stream videos from my phone to the TV. I wish it had this option like on my recent Odyssey of the Seas cruise.

TV turned on at night

Below the TV were five built-in hooks to hang up various items, like hats or bags. I’ve never seen these hooks on other cruise ships before, and I thought they were an interesting design choice. I like having more options to hang up things, but the hooks are lower on the ground, which may not be as helpful for those who cannot bend over easily.

utopia of the seas hooks

The balcony had two chairs and a small table. The balcony was very spacious and I could tell the difference in the size between a regular balcony cabin and this “large balcony.” This is the perfect place to sit, relax, and watch the ship sail away from port.

Balcony curtains

Lastly, the most exciting part of this cabin tour, the bathroom. I felt that there was enough storage in the bathroom for two people. There were three shelves by the toilet, a shelf below the sink, two towel racks, and two hooks on the door for hanging cosmetic organizers.

Bathroom on Utopia of the Seas

The shower had only one shelf inside, though I wish there were more. While this shower doesn't have the new design as the showers on Icon of the Seas, I didn't mind because I thought this shower was just as spacious. I could even put my elbows out and not bump the sides of the shower.

Shower on Utopia

Something else I liked about the bathroom was the blue floral backsplash. It really tied in with the blue theme of the cabin.

Utopia bathroom

There is a built-in nightlight in the bathroom so you can easily navigate to the bathroom in the middle of the night when it is dark inside the cabin.

Utopia shelving

Overall, I would recommend this oceanview balcony on Utopia of the Seas. It was spacious, well-designed, and perfect for two travelers. The cabin may feel cramped with more than two people, but it can certainly work.

Utopia of the Seas balcony cabin

I believe this oceanview with a large balcony cabin is extremely similar to the traditional oceanview balcony cabin, so either option would be a good choice. Truly, the only difference is that extra 30 square feet on the balcony, which isn't a drastic change.

Utopia of the Seas balcony cabin tour

5 things Utopia of the Seas does better than other Oasis Class ships

In:
19 Jul 2024
By: 
Matt Hochberg

Royal Caribbean's latest megaship is garnering all sorts of attention, and for good reason. Utopia of the Seas may not be the first Oasis Class ship, but she does a few things better than the rest.

Utopia of the Seas at Port Canaveral

At 236,860 gross tons, Utopia of the Seas is now the world's second-largest cruise ship and sails short cruises to The Bahamas.

To their credit, Royal Caribbean builds successive ships within a class with new features and upgrades older vessels don't have.

Utopia of the Seas has a lot of changes compared to Wonder of the Seas, both big and small. While not all of them will factor into your cruise experience, I found a handful that I think really stand out compared to other Oasis Class vessels.

Here's my list of the five things Utopia of the Seas does better than the five other Oasis Class ships.

Elevators

Destination elevator panel

The writing on the wall was clear after Icon of the Seas that passengers really loved the destination elevator concept.

Traditionally, elevators on cruise ships are easily overwhelmed with demand and that leads to long waits. Up until this year, it seemed like a necessary evil of cruising.

But when Icon of the Seas debuted, Royal Caribbean changed to destination elevators and it worked out so well. As a result, Utopia of the Seas them too. 

Elevator

Rather than simply pressing "up" or "down" in the elevator bank, you'll be required to make a deck selection. Then, you'll be assigned a specific elevator that will take you where you want to go. 

In my experience, the elevators on Utopia might not be as fast as Icon's, but they're definitely a step up from any other Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Specialty dining

Giovannis on Utopia

There are three specialty restaurants on Utopia of the Seas where Royal Caribbean raised the bar.

Izumi is now on Central Park and has a grab-and-go sushi window for convenient snacks. 

Guests who prefer a more formal meal can head inside Izumi for Royal Caribbean's first omakase option. This is an elevated meal for sushi lovers who are adventurous. 

Hibachi on Utopia

If that's not enough, Izumi has more hibachi tables than other ships and of course plenty of sushi seating too.

Equally impressive is Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. 

The Italian restaurant  is available on both Wonder and Utopia, however, the one on Utopia has been upgraded and is now two stories tall with a new al-fresco dining area.

Window on Royal Railway

And then there's the first Royal Railway restaurant.

The immersive dining experience includes food, a fun story, and it really makes you feel like you're on a classic train car. Digital screens are disguised as windows, adding to the effect.

Read more: Trying out Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas

Parties

Red Party

Royal Caribbean made the choice that Utopia of the Seas was going to be the ultimate party ship, and to that effect, they added so many parties to Utopia.

Many of the shows are unique to Utopia, giving it an edge to anyone that enjoys lots of opportunities to dance.

Not only does Utopia have the events on other ships, but they've added a toga party, college party, sunset pool party, and even an epic light production party.

Ultimate Abyss slide

Ultimate Abyss on Utopia of the Seas

The Ultimate Abyss has been extended 43 feet on Utopia, making it the longest slide at sea.

There's added effects within the slide to make it more intense, and overall, it's a better experience than the Ultimate Abyss found on other ships.

Theming

Pesky Parrot bar

One trend I noticed on Utopia is a deeper push for better theming in venues.  It's not something the cruise line pointed out, but it seemed that way to me.

Royal Railway car

The Royal Railway is the first and most obvious place we see this. It was built to be all encompassing, and I think Royal Caribbean hit a home run with this idea.  It will be especially impressive when more shows are added, and the venue gets to reach its full potential.

The Pesky Parrot bar is another great example of theming in action.

Pesky Parrot drink

Replacing the aging Bionic Bar concept would have been enough of an upgrade, but the new tiki bar idea goes well beyond a different place to get drinks.

When you enter the Pesky Parrot, you'll notice how much more cohesive the bar feels, and how much attention to detail there is within the venue. There's a beautiful digital display at the back to make it seem like you're looking out to the ocean. Royal Caribbean even added a talking parrot that might had a few drinks already when you talk to him.

It seems like Royal Caribbean has embraced not only coming up with new spaces, but ensuring they feel like an experience as much as being somewhere new to eat or drink.

Celebrity announces date, ship, location for President's Cruise 2025

In:
19 Jul 2024
By: 
Calista Kiper

Celebrity Cruises wants you to join them on a cruise with its top executives.

Celebrity Cruises announced the details, date, location, and ship of the 2025 President's Cruise. For the first time, Celebrity Cruises' President's Cruise will sail to the Fjords of Norway.

Guests onboard the 2024 President's Cruise just returned from their 6-night Caribbean sailing on Celebrity Beyond.

Celebrity Cruises President's Cruise offers members of the loyalty status program, Captain's Club, an opportunity to meet the line's leadership and hear exclusive upcoming news. 

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, will welcome passengers onboard an eight-night sailing to experience the famous fjords, wildlife, and waterfalls of Norway.

Read more: I took my first Celebrity Cruise on a new ship. We had a great time, but I missed Royal Caribbean's entertainment

The 2025 President's Cruise is set to sail a "once-in-a-lifetime" itinerary

On May 17th, 2025, Celebrity Apex, the cruise line's second Edge class ship, will sail the wonders of Norway.

Balancing luxury cruising and big-ship amenities, the vessel has a capacity for 3,405 passengers and comes in at 130,818 gross tons. 

The President's Cruise is an exciting opportunity for loyal fans and members with Celebrity Cruises and a reminder of the brand's premium vacation experience

Cruisers can meet with the line's President and leadership, experiencing exclusive events, premier parties, and special announcements.

The eight-night cruise will visit scenic cities in Norway, providing ample opportunity to appreciate the famous landscapes of the area.

Guests will enjoy Norway's famous fjords, wildlife, and waterfalls on exciting shore excursions to be revealed later.

Balcony in Norway

"Natural wonders and once-in-a-lifetime thrills await on this special sailing," the cruise line said in a press statement. 

The exciting Norwegian itinerary promises bucket-list opportunities for cruises to see marvelous views, historical sites, and exhilarating adventures.

“The President’s Cruise is a massive celebration of our Captain’s Club members, and the sailing is an incredible opportunity for me and my executive team to spend time with our guests,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity Cruises President.

Waterfall

She touched on the unique opportunity she gets to come together with loyal Celebrity Captain's Club members, saying "It is incredibly rewarding to hear guests’ stories and experience Celebrity through their eyes."

Celebrity Cruises provides this option, not only for members to hear from leadership, but also so that the line can learn from its members.

According to Hodges Bethge, she receives valuable feedback while on President's Cruises.

"The feedback and ideas we receive while onboard are instrumental in shaping the future of Celebrity Cruises, allowing us to innovate and enhance our offerings in ways that truly resonate with our guests.”

The 2025 sailing promises an exciting week of surprises and exclusive rewards for Captain's Club members.

This year's sailing took place on Celebrity Beyond for an exciting cruise of exclusive benefits

Celebrity Beyond

This year, the 2024 President's Cruise took place on the much-hyped Celebrity Beyond.

The Edge-class has been called the best in the fleet, coming in at 141,420 gross tons with a capacity for 3,260 passengers at double occupancy.

Guests departed from Port Everglades, Florida, on Sunday, June 23rd for a 6-night Caribbean sailing that featured onboard entertainment, custom shore excursions, and a sneak peek into what Celebrity guests can expect for the next few months.

Ascent Pool Deck

The sailing had two sea days packed with entertainment, including performances from Guinness World Record-holding hula hooping.

A pool party also featured a performance from members of the Team USA Artistic Swimming Team.

West End star Marisha Wallace and the captain of Celebrity Reflection, Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, put on an exciting and unique rock show.

Icon of the Seas at CocoCay

Guests could also present unfiltered questions to the Celebrity executives and leadership team at a Q&A session called "A Conversation with Celebrity." There, they received honest answers to pressing questions about the cruise line.

The unique sailing also offered a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Celebrity Cruises just started sailing to the Royal Caribbean Group private island in the Bahamas in April of 2024.

Celebrity Cruises ships now visit the private island for a full day of enjoyment.

Reflection-Docked-CocoCay

Read more: I went to Royal Caribbean's private island on a Celebrity cruise ship. Here's what surprised me about this visit

On the 2024 President's Cruise, passengers were greeted with surprise jet ski and flyboard stunt performers, Caribbean Junkanoo bands, and live DJs.

Coco Beach Club also hosted an afternoon soirée for Captain's Club members.

In Grand Cayman, Celebrity's executive team hosted group shore excursions tailored to the cruise line.

President Hodges Bethge hosted a private lunch at the oldest dwelling in Grand Cayman, the Grand Old House.

The President's Cruise ended with a stop in Bimini, Bahamas, where the cruise took over the island for a private beach club party and was sent off with fireworks.

The sailing returned to Port Everglades on Saturday, June 29th.

Loyalty club members can now have their status matched across brands

Celebrity-Flora

Members of the Celebrity Cruises loyalty program, Captain's Club, now receive more benefits than ever before.

The President's Cruise is just one of many perks Captain's Club members receive.

Members receive access to stateroom upgrades, spa discounts, exclusive onboard events, priority boarding and seating, and complimentary laundry.

In May 2024, Royal Caribbean Group announced that it would match loyalty statuses across all three of its brands: Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Silversea.

No matter which line passengers start with, they can enjoy a one-to-one tier match and equivalent benefits.

Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean's new loyalty match program. I missed having drink vouchers, but it saved me hundreds of dollars

Now, Captain's Club members with Celebrity Cruises can enjoy even more benefits across the globe, sailing different ships over all of Royal Caribbean Group's fleets.

More than 50 ships sail to almost 1,000 destinations across all seven continents, providing more ways than ever to see the world while enjoying elite benefits.

Christmas cruise in the UK? Royal Caribbean won't do it, according to CEO

In:
18 Jul 2024
By: 
Calista Kiper

Winter cruises don't look like they'll become a thing with Royal Caribbean.

The cruise line doesn't plan on having any Christmas cruises out of the UK, according to its CEO.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, explained why the line won't be having a Christmas cruise in Europe.

On this year's President's Cruise, held on Oasis of the Seas, he answered guest's burning questions during a Q&A session.

Michael Bayley

One cruiser from the UK asked, "Please, can we have a Christmas cruise coming out of Southampton?"

The CEO, although sympathetic to his fellow Brits, explained why the cruise line isn't planning on a Christmas cruise out of England.

Transatlantic cruises aren't practical in the winter 

Michael Bayley told cruisers that a Christian cruise out of Southampton isn't in Royal Caribbean's plans: "I don't think it's going to happen in the near future."

The main reason for that, he said, is the weather. "The weather's terrible," he said frankly, citing "gale-force winds and seas at 30 feet."

Because a Christmas cruise out of the UK requires the ship to be in the UK, this often involves a Transatlantic journey: "To operate a ship out of Europe, we have to bring it to Europe."

Ocean waves from balcony

The Atlantic Ocean is particularly rough and stormy in the winter, the exact time a ship would need to start traveling to arrive for a Christmas cruise.

A Transatlantic cruise would take between 11 and 12 days, also requiring the cruise line to sell the sailing.

Because Transatlantic cruises are so long, they don't sell as quickly.

"They're extremely expensive," Mr. Bayley said, "and they don't sell very well because nobody's got the time during late October [or] November, to take that much time off to sail."

Anthem of the Seas in Spain

Most people are already taking off work and school in late December and January, October and November aren't popular times to sail, especially on such a long cruise.

Plus, the ships for a Christmas cruise are bigger vessels, so "we need a lot of people to stay on."

Sailing out of the UK would require the line to sell out a Transatlantic voyage on a larger ship, which isn't likely.

"It becomes [about] economics," Mr. Bayley explained. "It's difficult for us to operate it and make it profitable."

Considering the climate, timing, and economics of a Transatlantic cruise in the winter, it doesn't make sense for Royal Caribbean to schedule a Christmas cruise out of the UK.

Independence of the Seas is scheduled to home port in Southampton, England, in the summer of 2025, giving her plenty of time to cross the Atlantic on smoother seas.

Read more: The worst months to cruise to Europe

Mr. Bayley also addressed winter cruises out of the Canary Islands.

Christmas decorations

"There's just not enough demand for those ships at the rates that make it economical. It doesn't work," he said.

"There's a seasonality to the business and you've got to be very careful about how the ships are deployed."

Cruise ship schedules depend on a variety of factors, from weather to customer demand, to holidays and vacations.

Royal Caribbean has to carefully choose when ships are deployed in certain regions, and it won't be able to offer every cruise guests desire.

Will there be an Icon Class ship in Europe? 

Aft of Icon of the Seas

Following up with more requests from Royal Caribbean's European audience, a cruiser from Spain also posed a question.

Rebecca from Madrid wanted to know: "Please, will an Icon Class ship be in Europe?"

Cruisers want to know if one of Royal Caribbean's newest classes will homeport in Europe.

She also asked that Royal Caribbean add more short, weekend cruises to Europe's itineraries, saying that the only one available to her (sailing out of Barcelona) was already sold out.

Big ben

Mr. Bayley immediately answered in the positive. 

"I think that's a great idea," he said.

Royal Caribbean sees "a big opportunity [right] now for shorter cruises in Europe, especially at the Spanish ports."

Shorter, weekend cruises will be in the plans for the cruise line, especially with how much demand it's seeing from the market.

Although Mr. Bayley didn't specify if these weekend cruises could take place on an Icon Class ship, he did answer Rebecca's questions in the affirmative. "We have looked at that."

However, weekend cruises will be focused around major ports in Spain.

Where are Royal Caribbean's Christmas cruises?

odyssey of the seas north star in curacao

Royal Caribbean offers a variety of holiday sailings on all its ships. 

The cruise line tends to sail most of its ships on Caribbean itineraries during the winter, taking advantage of the warmer weather and classic vacation areas.

On a Christmas cruise, you can expect the vessel to be brightly decorated, complete with a Christmas tree in a central location (such as the Royal Promenade).

The sailing is likely to also have Christmas-themed activities, such as caroling, holiday movies, and appearances from Santa and his elves.

Christmas decorations

There is also a menorah lighting, and a priest onboard to conduct public mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The following Royal Caribbean cruises will take place over Christmas Day, 2024:

  • Explorer of the Seas: 11-day Southern Caribbean cruise
  • Jewel of the Seas: 10-day Western Caribbean cruise
  • Ovation of the Seas: 10-day New Zealand cruise
  • Vision of the Seas: 8-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
  • Serenade of the Seas: 9-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
  • Anthem of the Seas: 4-day Penang Phuket cruise
  • Spectrum of the Seas: 9-day best of Japan cruise
  • Navigator of the Seas: 7-day Cabo cruise cruise
  • Radiance of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise
  • Icon of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
  • Enchantment of the Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean cruise
  • Brilliance of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise
  • Quantum of the Seas: 7-day South Pacific cruise
  • Adventure of the Seas: 6-day Western Caribbean cruise
  • Freedom of the Seas: 8-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
  • Grandeur of the Seas: 5-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
  • Wonder: of the Seas 7-day Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
  • Symphony of the Seas: 7-day Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
  • Oasis of the Seas: 6-day Western Caribbean cruise
  • Rhapsody of the Seas: 7-day Southern Caribbean cruise
  • Odyssey of the Seas: 7-day Perfect Day and Bahamas cruise 
  • Harmony Of The Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise 
  • Allure Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise
  • Liberty Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
  • Independence Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day 
  • Voyager Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day 
  • Utopia Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
  • Mariner Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean cruise