Royal Caribbean Blog

The cruise ship that wants you to completely re-think short cruises, is only one day away from making its formal debut. 

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is the second-biggest cruise ship ever built and will depart from Port Canaveral, Florida on Friday afternoon on its inaugural voyage to The Bahamas.

The key detail is its itinerary, because the new ship will only sail short cruises to The Bahamas.  It's a play by Royal Caribbean to introduce the predominant choice in the short cruise market.

Short cruises are usually what people that have never cruised before tend to book, and Royal Caribbean wants to take advantage of this market.  The new to cruisers singlehandedly represents the largest growth market any cruise line can tap, and enticing more new cruisers is how Royal Caribbean hopes to expand its customer base and continue to drive record profits.

The RoyalCaribbeanBlog team will be reporting live from Utopia of the Seas over the next few days, with full coverage of what this new ship is all about.

Big, bold, and brisk sailings

Built at the giant Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, Utopia of the Seas measures 236,473 gross tons, making her slightly larger than Wonder of the Seas but not quite as big as Icon of the Seas.

Like Wonder, Utopia is part of the Oasis Class of ships and are best known for being giant ships that offer just about everything you'd want on a single cruise ship. She can accommodate 5,668 passengers at double occupancy, along with 2,290 crew members.

Utopia is the sixth in the Oasis Class, with at least one more ship due out in 2028.

Her size is what allows Royal Caribbean to include its best ideas and offerings. Utopia of the Seas is positioned to have the very best features of any Oasis Class ship, which is why Royal Caribbean is so excited to have her start cruising.

On the top deck ,passengers can choose from water slides, a zip line, surf simulator, multiple pools, mini-golf course, adults-only section, kids aquapark, and a basketball court. When you go inside Utopia, there are bars, restaurants and shops, plus a huge casino, spa and theaters.

Every weekend is a party

Oasis Class ships aren't new, but Utopia of the Seas starting off with short cruises is a different approach.

Royal Caribbean is not mincing words when they say Utopia is meant to be the ultimate short getaway. In addition to all the activities onboard, there are shows, parties, and dance events meant to keep passengers in the right vibe every day of the sailing.

According to Royal Caribbean, there are 40 ways to dine, drink and party, including a selection of parties only on Utopia:

• Resort-style and sloping beach-entry pools
• Rezolution dance party with epic light productions
• Royal Kappa Chi throwback collegiate party
• Sail Away Pool Party 
• Senses Sunset Pool Party
• Plunge Day Pool Party, a Vegas-inspired daytime party
• Red late-night DJ
• Largest Shush! Silent Party in the fleet
• Silent Toga, [a] toga party with a silent twist

For fun that involves sitting down, Royal Caribbean advertises 9 shows you can take in on Utopia.

There are shows in each of the three theaters on Utopia, including the ice skating rink and outdoor Aquatheater.

The venue getting the most buzz is the new Royal Railway immersive dining car experience. This is where you can board a classic train car and be surrounded by digital screens, projections, decorations and even actors that all combine to make you feel like you're on a train.  It's something never before tried at this scale on a cruise ship.

The goal is to deliver to their guests exactly what Royal Caribbean's market research tells them cruisers want: first experiences that create family bonding moments with memories they'll take home and cherish.

Having one of Royal Caribbean's best ships in the fleet to offer weekend cruises is exactly how the line thinks they'll do that, along with homeporting her in Port Canaveral. Royal Caribbean has made no secret they are targeting the family vacation market that typically considers an Orlando vacation, which is just 45 minutes west of where Utopia sails twice per week.

The coup de grâce for Utopia is the combination of Utopia and a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island. The combination of a cruise on a great ship and a stop at arguably the best cruise line private island is the formula to separate itself from the competition on land or at sea.

Sailing from Port Canaveral through early 2026

Utopia of the Seas will offer 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral through at least March 2026.

Every sailing includes one visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau, Bahamas. The 4-night cruises include a sea day, although some Utopia of the Seas sailings in early 2025 have added a second stop at CocoCay.

The inaugural cruise will depart on Friday, July 19, 2024. This voyage will signify the ship's official start of service with paying passengers onboard.

At the time of writing, the lowest advertised fare on the Royal Caribbean's website for a cruise onboard Utopia in 2024 starts at $682 per person (including taxes and fees) for an interior room on the October 21 sailing. 

Prices drop a bit if you're willing to book further out, such as the January 9, 2026 sailing that begins at $567 per person (including taxes and fees) for an interior room.

Do kids need to be reigned in more on cruise ships?

Royal Caribbean has always been a family-focused brand, providing exciting vacation experiences for all ages. However, some adult cruisers feel the number of unruly kids onboard degrades their cruising experience.

At a talk on Utopia of the Seas' preview cruise this week, one travel agent shared that she's receiving a lot of complaints from adult clients.

She claims some of her clients are even leaving Royal Caribbean for other cruise lines because of the amount of unruly children onboard.

"I'm hoping you take this as an opportunity for improvement," she said to senior management on Utopia of the Seas.

She explained that adults are having an increasing amount of problems with unruly children onboard Royal Caribbean's vessels, particularly on Icon of the Seas, a ship marketed to families.

"Icon is fantastic, but [at] the swim-up bar, there's kids splashing into your drinks."

She said that she was on the dance floor at Bolero's at midnight, and still had children crawling through adult's legs as they tried to dance.

Because of these incidents, passengers are starting to leave Royal Caribbean for other quieter, more adult-focused cruise lines.

To improve the adult experience, the travel agent suggested more adult-oriented areas or curfews at the bars onboard.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, responded that the cruise line hears passengers' concerns and will look into it.

Royal Caribbean will revisit curfews for kids

For cruisers ages 17 and under, Royal Caribbean has a curfew of 1:00 A.M. 

Security staff onboard take measures to enforce this curfew by asking kids to return to their staterooms and checking the SeaPasses of passengers in public areas.

Michael Bayley said that the cruise line has been receiving an increased amount of written complaints about kids in public areas, so the line is willing to revisit the curfew policy.

"It's probably time for us to take a look at [the curfew]. I think the idea of curfews in some of the bars is a great idea," he said.

Other senior staff at the talk suggested an earlier curfew, especially for adult-focused bar and lounge areas, such as Bolero's or the swim-up bar.

Mr. Bayley reassured passengers that Royal Caribbean is still a family brand that welcomes kids onboard, but "we do need to make sure that we respect the adults."

"And you know what they say, everybody loves their own kids, but they're not so fond of everybody else's kids."

Royal Caribbean has already made changes in recent years to recognize customer feedback regarding kids onboard.

The Solarium, a crystal canopy pool area located at the front of most Royal Caribbean ships, used to allow guests aged 16 and over. 

In September of 2023, the cruise line raised the age limit to 18 years old, keeping the adults-only name consistent. 

Parents can continue to take advantage of Adventure Ocean

Royal Caribbean has a free kid's program across its fleet.

Adventure Ocean features activities for kids aged 6 months to 11 years, with different rooms and games tailored to each age range.

Parents have to register at the beginning of the cruise and sign their children in and out at each visit.

On sea days, the area is open from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M., then from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. and from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M.

Adventure Ocean is completely free between those hours, but there is an extra charge per hour after 10:00 P.M.

On port days, Adventure Ocean is open for the entire time that the ship is docked at port.

Guests booked on Royal Caribbean shore excursions can even drop off their kids and head to their destination.

Tween and teen cruisers can also find activities in separate hangout spaces designed specifically for them.

Read more: I'm a teen and went on the world's largest cruise ship. I was worried it would be juvenile, but it exceeded all my expectations

To avoid infringing on other cruiser's vacations, parents can take advantage of Adventure Ocean and should avoid leaving their children unattended.

Royal Caribbean's guest conduct policy states that parents and guardians are responsible for the behavior of accompanying minors, and must appropriately supervise them throughout the cruise vacation.

Read more: Royal Caribbean is testing a way to track your kids on the world's largest cruise ship

Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President of Travel, Trade, and Support also spoke about the activities available for kids onboard Royal Caribbean's ships.

"We are reevaluating some of the activities for the young children and also the teens to keep them more engaged with one another in our different venues like Adventure Ocean," she said. 

How to choose a cruise with fewer children onboard

Royal Caribbean is a family brand, but some cruises will have more kids than others.

Adults looking to avoid mischievous youngsters can plan ahead by avoiding certain sailings.

Summertime and holiday cruises, when kids are on break from school, will have a larger amount of families onboard.

"Icon has a huge number of families," Mr. Bayley said. "Of course, it peaks during the summer with families and kids."

Read more: 4 mistakes I saw other people make on Icon of the Seas—and 2 mistakes I made

Larger ships, such as Icon of the Seas, are marketed as floating amusement parks for all ages, so they have a wider appeal to families.

Royal Caribbean's mega-ships, from the Icon to the Oasis Class, are packed with activities like waterslides, ice skating, rock climbing, mini-golf, carousels, craft lessons, theater productions, and so much more.

They appeal to families because of their ability to entertain people of all ages.

Read more: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

On the other hand, sailings when school is in session (September to May) and longer cruises are likely to have fewer kids onboard.

Any adults who are cruising and notice rowdy or unattended kids onboard can let Guest Services know and allow crew members to handle it.

There's a new kind of experience on Royal Caribbean's cruise ship that is unlike anything else we've seen on a ship , just don't call it "another restaurant."

Royal Railway Utopia Station is an immersive dining experience, where guests feel like they're on a classic train that surrounds them with sight, sound, and visual effects.

Traditionally cruise ship restaurants rely primarily on the cuisine, with a bit of decor style to make it pleasing to the eye.  Royal Railway goes well beyond that by incorporating the two things most people look for in a vacation: food and destination.

Think of Royal Railway as a platform, rather than a restaurant. Unlike Chops Grille steakhouse, Royal Railway can change themes and cuisines to offer different experiences. Over the next few months, Royal Caribbean will incorporate more show types and expand its offerings.

The cost of Royal Railway starts at $74.99 per adult and $24.99 per child. Those with an Unlimited Dining Package can pay a $15 surcharge for adults and no extra cost for kids.

On my visit, I went through the Wild West theme to see what it's all about.

Disclosure: Royal Caribbean invited me to dine at Royal Railway during a preview event, and I did not pay for my meal.

Going west

The day of the meal, guests receive a paper ticket at their stateroom that they'll need to bring to the restaurant in order to board, just like a real train.

Royal Railway is tucked away on deck 4, and you might not know it's there until you see the train station flip board that hints at what's to come.

You then walk onto the platform, where you wait for your train to board. This is the welcome moment, where adults are given glass flasks of alcohol to drink while they wait for their train. The platform feels purposefully dingy, and the entire area looks like a train station instead of an area on a cruise ship.

A fun fact about the platform is it has a house phone for calling anywhere around the ship, but to fit into the period, it's a rotary phone.

When boarding begins, you have a few minutes to either remain on the platform or board immediately. But you'll probably want to see the train itself and start the journey.

Royal Caribbean says the train car design is based on a few different classic trains of the late 19th century and early 20th century. It's meant to be timeless, rather than a specific train.

There's bench seating that comes in 2 or 4 tops. The tables cannot be moved, as it's just like a train in that sense and fixed.

As you're seated, it might feel like dinner at another restaurant, but once the train leaves the station, that's where the similarities end.

The train starts up, and the subwoofers in the seats provide a gentle jolt as the train slowly accelerates out of the station.  It's not jarring, it simply provides a sensation of movement. The window blinds open up revealing a digital landscape around you that can be seen all around the car.

In the Old West mode, you'll see mountains, deserts, gold rush towns, and every other typical scene you've ever seen in a western movie.

The menu has a choice of appetizer, entree, and desert. Each of the menu choices seems to tick a box of food type: beef, chicken, vegetarian, fish. It's American fare that I think will suit most palates.

Everyone's meals in the car are served at the same time, similar to Chef's Table or Empire Supper Club.

I tried a few different items across the menu, but my favorites were the Fart 'n Dart Beans, Corn Chowder, Royal Railway cigar dessert.  My tablemate commented the lobster was fantastic.

Throughout the meal, there's a story being told and this is when the immersive experience begins to take shape. Not only are you seated in a train car, but you now have the visuals around you, characters in the car pulling you into the story, and of course the meal you're enjoying.

The story aspect is light hearted and a pleasant interlude between servings.  There's still plenty of time to relax and talk with your tablemates, and each of the scenes that takes place only takes a few minutes.

My favorite part of the story is the conductor that comes in with telegrams that are addressed to certain guests in the car.  He reads them aloud, and they're silly and sure to get a laugh when you hear the subject and then realize it's for someone in your group.

Our reservation was for 8:30pm and it was complete by about 9:45pm.

More ideas to come

The Wild West story is certainly a family-leaning experience, but Royal Caribbean plans to offer more themes.  In about 30-45 days, they hope to launch their second theme, Silk Routes, which is a Marco Polo journey from the Orient back to the West.  It's more adult-themed in the sense they envision it being a good fit for date night.

There's plans for a few more themes, along with a brunch option, and even whiskey tastings.

A platform with many possibilities

It became very apparent to me the incredible potential the train car has once Royal Caribbean is able to fully leverage it with a series of themes and offerings. It reminds me of a video game console, where one game alone might not be enough, but when you add multiple games, then you really enjoy it.

I enjoyed the Old West theme, and would love to bring my family onboard so they can experience it.  But I'm even more excited for the next iterations of Royal Railway because it adds so much repeat value.

Unlike specialty restaurants, I think Royal Railway is about experience first, and food second.  That isn't to say the food is bad at all, rather, it's a total package instead of being just about what you eat.

A real memory maker

Visually, it's stunning, and I think it's one of those things to do on a cruise ship that will resonate with families.

Royal Caribbean is always looking for ways to create memories for its guests, and it seems Royal Railway was created to do just that. It's an undeniably different kind of meal, and that will make it stand out when you look back on your vacation.

I think someone booking Royal Railway is going to do so because they want to do something fun and different during their cruise. The sort of activity that they can talk about when they get back home.

Royal Railway is unlike any other specialty restaurant I've tried on a cruise ship because it's not really a specialty restaurant.  It's something completely different that doesn't really fit into the defined categories we usually think about on a cruise. The fact there's something new to try is what has always appealed to me about cruising, as well as Royal Caribbean's continuous drive to push the envelope of what you can do on a ship.

One of the most exciting shopping events of the year is upon us - Amazon Prime Day! As one of the biggest online retailers in the world, Amazon runs a two-day sale every summer with the hottest deals of the year.

While Amazon has sales throughout the year on many of its best-selling items, Amazon Prime Day is the sales event of the year with the biggest discounts. This year, Amazon Prime Day will be happening for two days: July 16-17.

Lasting only two days, the sale is a quick one. Not to mention, Amazon also releases lightning deals that are time sensitive, meaning they are only available for a short period of time. Every five minutes will bring new deals and discounts during the 48-hour period, according to Amazon.  

If you are looking to purchase any travel essentials for your upcoming cruise vacation, it's the best time to snag some fantastic deals. This is actually the 10th anniversary of Amazon Prime Day, with each year bringing bigger and better discounts than before. Prime Day features discounts on a wide assortment of product categories, including electronics, appliances, home goods, travel necessities and more.

This year, Amazon says Prime members can shop more than 5 million deals worldwide across 35 different categories during the annual sale. Shoppers can expect to find the lowest prices of the year for some of the site’s top-selling products.

Amazon Prime Day is a member-exclusive event, meaning you need to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the best deals during Prime Day. Moreover, you can also try starting a 30-day free trial to enjoy this year’s shopping event if you don't have a membership. 

With millions of deals (literally) available for Prime Day, you might be feeling overwhelmed. Everything from new luggage sets to packing cubes, portable fans and magnetic hooks are on sale this year. If you’re setting sail on a cruise this year, you should take a look at some of our favorite Amazon products during this year’s Prime Day sale.

I combed through the list of products on sale (for hours, I should say) so you don't have to! Here are some of the best Prime Day deals we found on Amazon for your upcoming cruises. 

Please note that we receive a small commission if you purchase any of the products from our affiliate links below. You can also check out our Amazon Storefront for other essential cruise items that we recommend. Purchasing from the links below costs you nothing extra, but the small commission supports Royal Caribbean Blog. 

All prices below were at the time of publication. Prices may change during the sale based on availability.

Luggage Deals

If you’re in the market for new luggage, now is the best time to purchase for your cruise. Regardless of how you arrive to your cruise port - by car or airplane - you’ll need to have luggage for your vacation.

Whether you need just a carry-on for lighter travel or you want to invest in a multi-piece set, Prime Day has hundreds of luggage deals. Your best bet is to purchase a luggage set for the steepest discounts, including 2-piece or 3-piece sets.

Luggage is always one of the top-selling products for Prime Day, so take a look at some of the best Prime Day deals we found for luggage.

Samsonite Luggage

One of the best brands for affordable luggage is Samsonite. Each year, Amazon slashes the price of Samsonite luggage, including a variety of carry-on suitcases and checked bags. You can also find luggage sets if you’re looking to invest in multiple suitcases. 

One of the top deals this year is this 2-piece Samsonite luggage set in Mint Green. This includes a 21-inch and 28-inch suitcase for more than 50% off the original price. Amazon lists this luggage set as its best-selling product.

• Link: Freeform Hardside Expandable with Double Spinner Wheels, 2-Piece Set (21/28), Mint Green
• Price: $219.81 (Originally $479)

Another fantastic deal on Samsonite luggage is this 3-piece luggage set. You’ll receive a 20-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch suitcase in this set with an incredible discount of 50%. This is perfect for families looking to have a combination of checked luggage and carry-ons.

• Link: Samsonite Centric 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinners, Black, 3-Piece Set (20/24/28)
• Price: $250 (Originally $499)

For those looking to just purchase a carry-on, Samsonite is selling one of its best-rated carry-on suitcases for 33% off. This carry-on has received thousands of 5-star ratings, so it's a great suitcase for your upcoming cruise!

• Link: Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Black, Pro Carry-on
• Price: $146.82 (Originally $219.99)

Luggage Accessories

Along with suitcases, Prime Day has thousands of discounted luggage accessories as well. One handy tool for those flying to their embarkation port is this electronic luggage scale. 

This will help you determine if your luggage is overweight - it can happen quickly with all of that shopping both on the ship and in your ports of call! This one has a 4.6 star rating and is on sale for 20% off this Prime Day.

• Link: Amazon Basics Portable Digital Luggage Weight Scale, One Size, Black
• Price: $8.34 (Originally $10.42)

Packing cubes are another popular Amazon product for our cruisers; in particular, compression packing cubes can help save space in your luggage. You can not only stay organized, but packing cubes also allow for easy unpacking in your cruise stateroom. Simply remove the cube from your luggage and place them in your cabin’s closet, drawers or shelves. 

These Gonex compression packing cubes are some of the best-selling packing cubes on Amazon - and they're getting a big discount for Prime Day. You’ll receive 4 packing cubes with various sizes to maximize your luggage space. I own these personally and I refuse to cruise without them!

• Link: Gonex Compression Packing Cubes, 4pcs Expandable Storage Travel Luggage Bags Organizers (Blue)
• Price: $21.99 (Originally $29.99)

For non-compression packing cubes, this set of five packing cubes from Travelwise is on sale for 41% off. This set includes five cubes with various sizes. Although these do not compress your clothes, packing cubes are extremely useful for organization while traveling. This set has a fantastic rating of 4.7 stars!

• Link: TravelWise Luggage Packing Organization Cubes 5 Pack, 2 Small, 2 Medium, 1 Large (TWPC-24)
• Price: $19.99 (Originally $33.99)

Another cruise essential that I travel with is my electronics organizer. This organizer contains all of my cords and chargers for the many devices that I cruise with. It’s so convenient having all of my cords neatly in one location when traveling and I also appreciate how it keeps my cruise cabin less cluttered. For under $10, this has been a game changer for me!

• Link: BAGSMART Cord Organizer Travel Cable Organizer Bag Tech Electronic Organizer Travel Case, Travel Essentials for Charger, Cable, Phone, Flash drive, Single Layer - Black
• Price: $8.09 (Originally $10.99)

Speaking of organization, one cruise essential that we recommend is a hanging toiletry bag. With limited space in your cruise cabin bathroom, you can save space by utilizing one of these organization bags. A hanging toiletry bag allows you to keep your counter uncluttered with your toiletries being stored properly on the back of the door. I don’t travel without mine!

• Link: BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Hanging Travel Makeup Organizer with TSA Approved Transparent Cosmetic Bag Makeup Bag for Full Sized Toiletries, Medium-Black
• Price: $19.99 (Originally $27.99)

Keeping with the organization theme, this handy travel jewelry case is also on sale for Prime Day! This allows you to store all of your jewelry safely in one place while traveling, both in your suitcase and in your cruise cabin. This one comes highly rated and I love the pink color!

• Link: BAGSMART Travel Jewelry Organizer Case Foldable Jewelry Roll for Journey-Rings, Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets,Mini,Light Pink
• Price: $15.29 (Originally $19.99)

Those who need to take daily medication during their vacation might also consider purchasing this travel pill organizer for their cruise. Moreover, you can use this to pack over-the-counter medication for your cruise, as the onboard shops are overpriced with a limited selection of medicine. 

• Link: FYY Daily Pill Organizer, 7 Compartments Portable Travel Pill Case [Folding Design]Pill Box for Purse Pocket to Hold Vitamins,Cod Liver Oil,Supplements and Medication-Pink
• Price: $6.50 (Originally $8.95)

Cruise Necessities

Prime Day is filled with deals for some of our favorite cruising necessities, such as this waterproof phone case. If you’re looking to take some fantastic photos on the beach or in the pool without worrying about ruining your phone, consider purchasing this waterproof phone pouch.

• Link: Case-Mate IP68 Waterproof Phone Pouch - Travel Beach Cruise Ship Essentials - Floating Waterproof Phone Case w/ Crossbody Lanyard for iPhone 15 Pro Max/ 14 Pro Max/ 13 Pro Max/ S24 Ultra - Sand Dollar
• Price: $13.28 (Originally $19.99)

Magnetic hooks are very popular among cruisers, as staterooms on a cruise ship have magnetic walls. Since the space is small, these magnetic hooks can be used to hang a variety of items directly on your wall. This helps your cabin stay tidy and organized!

• Link: Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks, 27 lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Cabins, Grill (Silver White, Pack of 10)
• Price: $6.24 (Originally $11.99)

Another popular product for many cruisers is a mini portable fan to use in your stateroom. This is especially important if you prefer to have a fan running while you sleep. Those who like a cool cabin might also appreciate the additional airflow by having one of these portable fans.

A USB-powered fan will ensure you don’t need to waste an outlet in your cabin, either. This portable fan comes highly rated with 4.6 stars on Amazon- and it’s on sale for 34% off during Prime Day.

• Link: Cordless Desk Fan, Battery Operated Fan with USB, 70ft Strong Airflow Portable Fan, Quiet Operation Fan with LED Light and 360° Rotate Table Fan for Bedroom Home Office Outdoor Travel(Pink)
• Price: $21.24 (Originally $24.99)

Similarly, handheld fans are becoming increasingly popular for cruisers as well. Visiting destinations throughout Mexico and the Caribbean are sure to bring high temperatures, especially if you’re cruising in the late summer months. Consider purchasing this popular handheld fan for 31% off - it’s a great deal!

• Link: Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan, Powerful Handheld Fan, Cute Design 3 Speed Personal Small Desk Fan with Base, Lightweight Makeup USB Rechargeable Fan for Stylish Girl Women Travel Indoor Outdoor Black
• Price: $8.99 (Originally $19.99)

In addition, one cruise essential that I never leave at home is a portable charger. To start, I never want my phone to run out of battery while on vacation. Moreover, cruise cabins have limited outlets usually so having another source for charging devices can be super helpful while cruising.

This one is on sale for Prime Day and includes built-in cords to save you space. It’s on sale for 27% and comes with thousands of 5-star reviews.

• Link: VEEKTOMX Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh Power Bank for iPhone, Slim Fast Charge USB C Battery Pack, Travel Essentials Powerbank Compatible with iPhone 15/14/13, Samsung, Android, etc
• Price: $23.98 (Originally $32.99)

If you’re looking for a charger that's easier to have with you throughout the day, this mini portable charger would be perfect to fit in your beach bag for those port days ashore.

• Link: VVEEKTOMX Mini Portable Charger Power Bank 10000mAh, 22.5W Fast Charging Powerbank USB C Slim & Lightweight Travel Phone Charger, Dual Voltage Small Battery Pack for iPhone/Samsung/Google/Tablet, White
• Price: $25.99 (Originally $38.99)

Another must-have electronics item for cruising is a European adapter, as many cruise ships will have a European outlet in cruise ship cabins. This expands your charging capacities while cruising - and we highly recommend you bring one, especially if you’re cruising on an older ship.

• Link: [2-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, VINTAR International Power Plug Adapter with 1 USB C, 2 American Outlets and 3 USB Ports, 6 in 1 Travel Essentials to Most of Europe Greece, Italy(Type C)
• Price: $17.84 (Originally $20.99)

Another electronics must-have for cruising, in my opinion, is a portable sound machine. If you prefer to sleep with white noise playing, you should consider purchasing one of these for your next cruise. These are small and easy to pack - so it won’t take up too much space in your suitcase. Perfect for families traveling together as well! 

• Link: White Noise Machine Babelio Mini Sound Machine for Adults Kids Baby | 15 Non-looping Sounds | Timer | Easy to Pocket and Travel - White
• Price: $15.99 (Originally $19.99)

One very popular item for traveling - and every day wear honestly - is a belt bag. These small cross-body purses are perfect for keeping all of your essentials in one convenient location. Belt bags are extremely popular for both men and women because they are both comfortable and practical. This one is on sale for Prime Day and has great ratings!

• Link: Telena Belt Bag for Women Men Fashionable Crossbody Fanny Pack for Women Waist Bag with Adjustable Strap Light Brown
• Price: $11.19 (Originally $13.99)

Regardless of where you’re cruising, you should definitely plan to pack sunscreen. Those planning to spend time on the beach or chilling on the pool deck will especially want to make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen. I love to travel with sunscreen that I can wear on my face daily, such as the Unseen Sunscreen from Supergoop! You can snag 20% off select SuperGoop products during the Prime Day sale, which is a great deal!

• Link: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen - SPF 40-1.7 fl oz - Invisible, Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen - Weightless, Scentless, and Oil Free - For All Skin Types and Skin Tones
• Price: $30.40 (Originally $38)

If you’re concerned about seasickness during your cruise - or you’re prone to motion sickness - you should plan to pack medication. Dramamine is one of the most popular seasickness medications. For Prime Day, you can get a great deal on Dramamine Chewables for Kids for 30% off. This medication is highly rated with nearly all 5-star reviews and would be easy for kids to take.

• Link: Dramamine Kids Chewable, Motion Sickness Relief, Grape Flavor, 8 Count, 3 Pack
• Price: $9.79 (Originally $13.99)

You can also purchase the original Dramamine medication for your cruise, which is on sale for Prime Day as well. Even though I am not prone to seasickness, I always pack Dramamine when cruising in case of an emergency.

• Link: Dramamine Original, Motion Sickness Relief, 36 Count
• Price: $8.39 (Originally $11.99)

Another interesting item to bring on a cruise that I’ve seen many people rave about is an insulated coffee mug with a lid. If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, you will typically need to use the small coffee cups provided by the cruise line in the buffet area. These cups are easy to spill, especially if you want your coffee to go.

If you have the space for an insulated coffee mug, you can take coffee with you easily from the buffet and keep it warm. Those going on cold-weather cruises like Alaska, Iceland, and Norway might especially appreciate having an insulated mug to take in the sights from the chilly top deck. This one is on sale for 44% off and comes highly recommended!

• Link: ALOUFEA 12oz Stainless Steel Insulated Coffee Mug with Handle, Double Wall Vacuum Travel Mug, Tumbler Cup with Sliding Lid, Navy
• Price: $10.15 (Originally $17.99)

Meghan Trainor could have brought her Gucci on and wore her Louis Vuitton onto Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

The famous singer was the center of attention on Monday for the official christening of Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean celebrated the launch of its newest cruise ship at a ceremony held onboard the ship while in Port Canaveral, Florida. Ms. Trainor took part in the traditional naming of a new cruise ship. The ship, which formally sets sail for the first time this weekend, is the second biggest ship in the world.

With her help, a bottle of champagne was broken against the bow of the ship — something that is supposed to bring good luck to the vessel and its passengers.

"I'm privileged to be a part of naming Utopia of the seas. This is crazy," she said as she took to the stage for the ceremony. 

She also talked about how sharing the experience with her family means so much to her, "I've never been able to vacation on a ship like this, and neither has any of my family."

"We're so excited and honored. And my son is going to have the best trip of his whole life. So thank you, Royal Caribbean for making this happen."

She went onto sing "All About That Bass" to the crowd on her ukulele. 

Utopia of the Seas offers 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas, which is a bold move by Royal Caribbean because new cruise ships usually begin service with 7-night cruises.

The reason for the change in game plan is to attract more new cruisers to try a cruise vacation on Royal Caribbean. The combination of a brand new ship offering the very best Royal Caribbean has to offer and homeporting of the ship very close to Orlando is what the cruise line thinks will be a winning formula.

Who is Meghan Trainor?

Meghan Trainor is an American singer-songwriter known for her catchy pop songs with retro influences. 

She became famous with her catchy debut single, "All About That Bass" was released in 2014.  Not only was it a good tune, but it promoted body positivity.

Trainor has released multiple albums, won several awards, and is recognized for her distinctive voice and playful, upbeat music style.

What is a cruise ship godmother?

A godmother is part of maritime tradition and a ceremonial role that all new cruise ships incorporate.

Cruise lines select someone to christen their new ship. Sometimes it's a well-known celebrity, such as Meghan Trainor, and other times it's an important community member.

As an example, soccer megastar Lionel Messi held the role on Icon of the Seas, whereas a contest on TikTok was held to find a godmother for Wonder of the Seas.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

A vacation for making memories

It's likely there's a Meghan Trainor song or two that always conjures up a memory of where you first heard it, and Royal Caribbean wants Utopia of the Seas to be just as memorable.

"A lot of first time cruisers are looking for first experiences... burn in memories that they're going to have," explained Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer while onboard Utopia.

To that point, Utopia of the Seas has a lot of firsts that Royal Caribbean has never done before, such as an immersive dining car experience, a new tiki bar, new parties around the ship, and much more. 

Plus, the ship visits Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas. Perfect Day at CocoCay is an expansive beach and pool playground where cruise ship passengers can enjoy different ways to relax, explore, or party.

When you include all of it together, it's the formula the cruise line thinks will bring in new cruisers.

Cruise ships are always evolving, including how to power them.

In a world growing more aware of the importance of protecting the environment, cruise lines are holding themselves to a higher standard.

Royal Caribbean has its own net zero carbon emission goals, and its newest cruise ships rely on new fuel sources to power them.  They're even using biofuels on some ships, as well as launching the first waste-to-energy system on a cruise ship.

However, the work isn't complete and the ultimate goal of a clean burning fuel unreached.

At a Q&A session on the 2024 President's Cruise, a passenger named Bridget asked, "What is the top thing Royal Caribbean is working on towards [its] environmental impact?"

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told passengers that the cruise line is committed to sustainability, but can't rely on solutions that don't yet exist.

He was honest about where Royal Caribbean succeeds environmentally and where it needs work.

Royal Caribbean works with the latest research it has at the time 

Michael Bayley explained Royal Caribbean's commitment and mindset regarding the environment.

"Everything that we do is put through that lens of trying to be as sensible as we can buy new ships, for example; Icon, Utopia, Star."

Icon of the Seas launched in January of 2024, Utopia of the Seas will have its first voyage in July of 2024, and Star of the Seas is set to arrive in the summer of 2025.

Royal Caribbean has focused on making its new ships as environmentally friendly as possible in tandem with new research providing information.

The three new ships were all made with hybrid engines and can run on a combination of typical marine fuel and LNG (liquified natural gas).

LNG is considered more environmentally friendly because, according to Mr. Bayley, it's about 24% better in carbon footprint than marine fuel.

"We are committed to making the journey to carbon neutrality," he said.

"Over time, we set goals for 2030."

Read more: Royal Caribbean's next-gen cruise ship will advance goal of creating sustainable cruising

Although LNG is considered better for the environment, it's not perfect.

Liquified natural gas has also been criticized for leaking when it's transferred between tanks.

"When decisions are made on building ships, they're made with the information that's available at the time. And of course, the information at the time when we signed contracts to build ships is different from how it looks today," Michael Bayley said. 

Although Royal Caribbean builds its new ships with the newest technology they're aware of, the information changes from year to year.

Cruise ships can be built in 18-12 months, but they take years to come to fruition. Icon of the Seas, for example, was conceived before 2016 and finally launched in 2024.

With these long timelines, information can change over the years.

"In five years, how we do this is going to look different as well," Mr. Bayley continued.

"There is no magical fuel"

The biggest issue for cruise ship sustainability is fuel. Cruise ships use a massive amount of fuel to power their journeys and amenities onboard.

Michael Bayley touched on this during the Q&A: "The big question is, what is the future fuel for all of this transportation? It's still unknown."

Transportation industries such as cargo ships and airlines are investing in the issue and attempting to find a solution, but there's still not a perfectly sustainable option.

"There is no magical fuel," Mr. Bayley said, and he believes "that's the formula for success in the future."

Five to ten years ago, LNG was viewed as the solution to creating a more sustainable fuel. But now it's not considered the best option.

Read more: Which Royal Caribbean ships are powered by LNG?

Mr. Bayley also addressed other options that are still being developed, such as methanol and fuel cells.

He didn't make a mention of the new biofuel Royal Caribbean has been testing on its ships.

However, none of these options are viable for cruise ships yet. 

The entire marine industry is working on a solution

And before you consider boycotting cruise ships for their lack of sustainable fuel, it's important to consider the big picture.

When it comes to environmental issues, Mr. Bayley pointed out that the whole world "is on the same journey" to carbon neutrality.

Many governments and industries are working on the question of sustainable transportation.

Nearly everything we consume in the Western world has arrived by cargo ship, powered by typical marine fuel.

"80% of everything we consume comes on containers," Mr. Bayley said. "The cars we drive, the clothes we wear, the water we drink."

Typically, these items come by ship or rail, so there's no getting away from the question of carbon-neutral fuel.

Fuel is a big question for the entire marine industry, and Royal Caribbean is committed to figuring out a sustainable answer.

"I can assure you we're committed to that," Mr. Bayley told passengers on the President's Cruise. 

"We are working diligently, not only as a company but [also] within the industry and within the larger sector of the maritime industry, which is vast."

He also urged listeners to check out Royal Caribbean's sustainability report on the website, which describes all of the cruise line's efforts in detail.

Royal Caribbean has more sustainable waste management than cities on land

Royal Caribbean understands its responsibility to the environment and has done an excellent job at managing waste onboard its ships.

Just 7% of the waste onboard Royal Caribbean ships ends up in the landfill. 

The rest is recycled, incinerated, or turned into purified water that can be dumped in the ocean.

"I would challenge any city in Europe or the world to have a better, more advanced technology than we have onboard," Mr. Bayley said.

"Now, if you went home and understood how much of your waste is going into a landfill, I'm going to bet it's a lot more than 7%."

According to the Trash in America report by Frontier Group, 52.6% of trash in the United States is thrown in landfills or otherwise combusted without energy recovery.

Read more: Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships will convert waste to energy

When Royal Caribbean designed Utopia of the Seas, they had a primary goal of loading it up with the absolute best food and drinks you could find at sea.

Rather than build a cruise ship with the same exact options as previous vessels, the team at Royal Caribbean had the goal of packing Utopia of the Seas with just about every plussed up idea they had.

Read more: Utopia of the Seas guide

If you look back at ships over time, you can find different ideas, initiatives, and upgrades on each. Sometimes they are added in a refurbishment, sometimes they are a new idea at the time when the ship was built, and in other cases, they are one-off enhancements.

The Product Development team at Royal Caribbean wanted to come up the ultimate dine and drink evolution, according to Jay Schneider.

Schneider leads the Product Development team, and it's his job to dream up ideas for cruise ships that will position Royal Caribbean ahead of any vacation option out there.

'Our ultimate dine and drink evolution'

Mr. Schneider said Royal Caribbean's research indicates people choose to cruise for two primary reasons: destinations and food.

While entertainment and retail do factor into that decision, where the person goes and what they eat always rank highest.

"We really wanted to focus on that tradition, evolution, revolution from a food and beverage perspective," Mr. Schneider explained in an exclusive interview with Royal Caribbean Blog.

He's referring to an internal directive for new cruise ship building that relies on embracing aspects that have worked in the past (traditional), improving upon others (evolution), and coming up with completely new ideas (revolution).

Mr. Schneider sees everywhere you look on Utopia of the Seas the very best food and beverage options you'll find on any Royal Caribbean ship.

From a massive overhaul of Izumi and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen with expanded new locations, to something as simple as adding sprinkles to the complimentary soft-serve ice cream on the pool deck, "we leaned into kind of that ultimate dine and drink, which got us to really re-examine every venue, every offering."

Royal Caribbean nicknamed the initiative, "Project Feast", and it's goal was to deconstruct what their guests were looking for in how they dine, drink, and eat onboard.

The team felt good about many of the existing restaurant properties, but wanted more out of them, "Great steak house in Chops, excellent Italian in Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, great seafood in Hooked, great Japanese in Izumi. But even in those, where do they evolve to?"

He says that evolution is present on Utopia of the Seas.

A similar effort was already underway for sister ship, Icon of the Seas, but there was more time to re-evaluate what was working well.

"In the case of Izumi, we really thought we were on to something with Izumi in the Park. Let's take a look at that, deconstruct it and say, where else would we go with it?"

Read more: How Izumi went from concept to success

The result is the biggest Izumi yet, with double the teppanyaki tables, new al fresco dining, a to-go window, and even an omakase experience.

The team saw a different goal with Giovanni's, because they wanted to enhance the restaurant, "We really wanted to lean into great Italian, gorgeous, uplifting the experience."

It's in a new location on deck 12 and spans two stories, and even has an outdoor terrace that overlooks the Boardwalk.

Read more: How Royal Caribbean reimagined its signature Italian restaurant

Chops Grille got the upgraded menu options first introduced on Icon of the Seas, along with brand new decor. Schneider believes it's the best in the fleet now.

While all of those venues got upgrades, Mr. Schneider felt it was time to redevelop completely the Bionic Bar concept.

"Our research said it was tired, it was underutilized, and so it gave us a great opportunity to lean into consumer testing and say, an awesome tiki bar is going to be a really great place if we do it right."

The result is the Pesky Parrot, which he believes is a home run for guests.

Over on the pool deck, there's a new complimentary food truck that gives passengers great complimentary food close to the pools. 

The Spare Tire serves up snacks on Utopia, and it's part of the evolution of an idea to offer more great complimentary options that was first conceived with the Aquadome Market on Icon of the Seas.

Read more: What the Food Was Like on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

"Our research has said they want the unapologetic resort day when they're at sea. And that is amazing access to water, great views and then great food, so they don't have to go very far."

Read more: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Weekends now, but a ship for everywhere

Royal Caribbean turned a few heads when it announced Utopia of the Seas would begin with just 3- and 4-night cruises instead of 7-night voyages.  It flew in the face of what traditionally a new ship would do, but Royal Caribbean wanted to offer the very best weekend ship to attract new cruisers.

Read more: 5 moves Royal Caribbean is making to overhaul its weekend cruise business

That's the plan for now, but Utopia of the Seas is ready to longer cruises, should the need arise.

"If you think of kind of the evolution of all of our ships, none of them stay in the perfect itinerary, in the perfect location," Mr. Schneider explained.

"We really honed in on designing a global ship that matches what our brand ambition, our brand DNA, and then all rooted in what our guests are looking for us to deliver."

"I would argue Icon unapologetically has been the best of that so far, and I would also argue Utopia builds on that."

A weekend cruise sounds like the perfect Royal Caribbean cruise because you can get away for just a few nights and not need a lot of time off from work.

There are pros and cons to taking a short cruise over the weekend, but it's often the way a lot of people try a cruise for the very first time.

Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean cruise. Knowing which departure ports offer weekend cruises, which destinations you can visit, and how much to budget for will help determine which weekend cruise will be best for your mini-getaway.

Best ship for a weekend cruise

While all Royal Caribbean ships may offer a 3-night cruise here and there, there are several ships that almost exclusively run on the same schedule every week. These ships tend to offer 3-night cruises from Friday afternoon to Monday morning and 4-night cruises from Monday afternoon to Friday morning.

While most ships running weekend cruises are not the newest and largest in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, the majority of these ships have recently been amplified in the cruise line’s Royal Amplified program. Amplifications bring an impressive upgrade to Royal Caribbean ships, adding new onboard activities, stateroom options, and dining/lounge venues.

Utopia of the Seas is the hottest new cruise ship on the market, and is designed to be the ultimate weekend cruise ship, especially if you're new to cruising.  

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Utopia of the Seas offers 3-night weekend cruises from Friday to Monday that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.

The new ship has 21 restaurants, five pools, two casinos, and an ice skating rink.

Allure of the Seas also offers weekend cruises from her homeport of Miami, Florida. She departs on Friday afternoons and visits both Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning back to Florida on Monday morning.

Allure of the Seas makes a great weekend cruise option for those who love having a nearly endless amount of activities to choose from onboard, from zip lining to AquaTheater shows.

Voyager of the Seas offers longer weekend cruises from Port Canaveral. She has 4- and 5-night cruises in 2024 and 2025, and they go to Cozumel, Mexico, or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in addition to The Bahamas.

Voyager of the Seas is a mid-sized ship and the original Voyager Class cruise ship. She has a lot to do, and her prices tend to be very competitive. She doesn't sail the Friday to Monday weekend cruises, however.

Freedom of the Seas, a Freedom Class ship, will offer seasonal 3-night weekend cruises from Miami in 2025, visiting both CocoCay and Nassau.

Freedom of the Seas was amplified in February 2020 and received a major upgrade, with additions including the Perfect Storm waterslides, a Caribbean resort-style pool deck, and the new Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen restaurant.

Independence of the Seas is the weekend getaway ship of choice for those who prefer to depart from Miami, Florida. 

Independence of the Seas is a Freedom Class cruise ship offering 3-night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas. Passengers on Independence of the Seas can enjoy an escape room, water slides, and the Izumi hibachi restaurant.

Navigator of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship, is the only Royal Caribbean cruise ship permanently homeported at the Port of Los Angeles. 

She offers 3-night weekend cruises to Ensenada, Mexico. Navigator of the Seas was amplified in 2019 with a Caribbean resort-style pool deck, new tropical-themed bars like the Bamboo Room, an escape room, and more.

Weekend cruise itineraries

Royal Caribbean offers cruises as long as 19+ nights and as short as 2 nights to destinations all over the world. Regardless of whether you book the longest cruise, a transpacific sailing visiting French Polynesia and New Zealand, or the shortest cruise to the Bahamas, you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable cruise vacation.

How long are weekend cruises?

Most weekend cruises tend to be three nights, leaving port on Friday afternoon and returning early Monday morning. A 3-night cruise gives the perfect length for a true “weekend getaway,” allowing you to forget all the stress brought on by work or school and truly escape.

Occasionally you may find 2-night cruises over the weekend, which leave Friday afternoon and return Sunday morning, although these are much less common.

Weekend cruise departure ports

Most of Royal Caribbean’s regularly scheduled weekend cruises leave from the ports of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, or Los Angeles.

Due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act (otherwise known as the Jones Act), all foreign-flagged ships departing from the United States must include an itinerary stop in a country other than the United States.

Weekend cruises from New York, Boston or Baltimore don't exist because of the time required to reach a foreign port due to distance.

On some occasions you may find weekend cruises leaving from other ports around the world, such as Southampton, England and Haifa, Israel, although these tend to be more of a one-time cruise than a weekly itinerary choice.

Where can I visit on a weekend cruise?

Weekend cruises are fairly limited in the destinations they can visit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience an amazing day in port on a 3-night getaway.

Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau is the capital of New Providence Island and is one of the most commonly visited ports on any Royal Caribbean cruise. The city is filled with fun activities, from waterparks to historical sites and enjoying day passes at all-inclusive resorts.

While it’s possible to disembark the ship in Nassau and simply walk around, we highly recommend planning what you would like to do in Nassau in advance to ensure you don’t miss out on the island’s best offerings and beaches.

Read more: Best things to do in Nassau on a cruise

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s private destination in the Bahamas and is a favorite port among cruise fans. The island offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking to spend the day relaxing at Chill Beach, join the party at the swim-up bar, reserve a private, floating cabana, or slide down the tallest waterslide in North America.

While it’s not necessary to have a plan for your day at CocoCay, it’s a good idea to be familiar with what is offered on the island to ensure you can book any excursions or addons in advance.

Ensenada, Mexico

Ensenada is a port city on Mexico’s Pacific coast in the state of Baja California. If you’ve taken a cruise to other Mexican ports like Cozumel and Costa Maya, you’ll be surprised at how different the geography and coastline of Ensenada is compared to the Caribbean.

Whereas the Yucatan peninsula offers dense jungles, Mayan ruins, and calm beaches, Ensenada has a dry climate. A day in Ensenada is best spent enjoying Baja California’s nature, whether exploring the Calafia Valley Wine Country, riding an ATV on the coast, or hiking through El Salto Canyon.

Read more: A day in Ensenada, Mexico while cruising on Navigator of the Seas

Other destinations

Royal Caribbean occasionally offers short cruises to more exotic destinations. Currently, there are cruises to Cyprus, Le Havre (Paris), and Naples, Italy available to book! The vast majority of weekend cruises, however, tend to visit the same ports due to their proximity to the United States.

Will there be a sea day?

The majority of weekend cruises departing from Florida do not have a sea day, although you may occasionally run into an itinerary with one day at sea. Weekend cruises tend to be port-intensive, meaning they stop in a new port each day.

The exception is with cruises departing from the Port of Los Angeles on Navigator of the Seas. Weekend cruises on Navigator of the Seas have a full day at sea prior to a port day in Ensenada, Mexico. A sea day is perfect for trying the newly amplified ship’s upgraded features, including the longest waterslide at sea and The Lime & Coconut Bar.

If your weekend cruise itinerary does not include a sea day, that does not mean you have to disembark the ship in each port you visit. Many passengers opt to spend one of the port days onboard instead of in port so they can make the most of the cruise ship’s activities, dining, and amenities.

Which cruise ship should I pick for a weekend cruise?

Most of Royal Caribbean’s ships offering weekend cruises are extremely similar to each other, but Utopia of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are the notable favorites.

Being among the biggest cruise ships in the world, Utopia of the Seas and Allure of the Seas offer the most to do onboard and the most choices in entertainment, dining, and activities.

The Voyager and Freedom Class cruise ships are almost identical in layout and onboard features. While some dining venues, bars, and water slides may differ, passengers should expect a relatively similar experience no matter which Voyager or Freedom Class ship they choose. The primary benefit of these ships over the Oasis Class ships is price, as they are likely going to be noticeably cheaper.

There are a few differences between them that should be noted, though:

• Utopia of the Seas is the perfect ship if you want the very best and newest features, and don't mind paying more than other weekend cruise options
• Allure of the Seas does not yet have as many upgrades as Utopia of the Seas. However, prices on Allure tend to be quite competitive
• Navigator of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas offer different styles of waterslides than the other ships
• There is an escape room available on Freedom, Independence, Navigator, and Utopia of the Seas
• Freedom Class ships are longer than Voyager Class ships, giving more space for a Splashaway Bay area for kids on the pool deck and more venues and stores inside the ship
• Utopia of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, and Navigator of the Seas offer the revamped Adventure Ocean kids programming, which offers kids more flexibility in activities rather than a rigid activity schedule

Should I pick Utopia of the Seas?

Utopia of the Seas stands apart from any other cruise ship offering weekend cruises because she's brand new and offers so much more to do onboard.

Royal Caribbean thinks Utopia of the Seas is the top choice for anyone who wants to do a weekend cruise, especially first-time cruisers. Utopia has the best in class offerings, which means her pools, activities, shows, and cabins are arguably superior to any other Oasis Class ship.

A 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas will almost certainly be the type of sailing where the ship is considered the destination. Whether dining outdoors in Central Park, watching impressive acrobatics and diving in the AquaTheater, or zip lining over the Boardwalk, it’s unlikely a weekend will be enough time to explore the entire ship!

Read more: Royal Caribbean has a plan to dominate short cruises with a new ship and private destinations

One important distinction to note before booking a weekend cruise on Allure of the Seas is that she has a few differences compared to other Oasis Class cruise ships. While she was scheduled to be amplified in 2020, her amplification has been postponed. Therefore she does not have many features you will find on other ships offering weekend cruises, including water slides, an upgraded pool deck, and new restaurants and bars.

Weekend cruise cost

Weekend cruises offer a great value for a short getaway, as food, lodging, entertainment, and onboard activities are included in your cruise fare. When comparing the price of a hotel, dining at restaurants, and purchasing tickets to entertainment on land, a cruise tends to come at a much lower cost.

In general, a weekend cruise in the cheapest stateroom category (interior) will cost between $700 and $1,000 total for 2 adults. The cost of a balcony stateroom will be slightly higher, usually falling somewhere between $1,000 and $1,450.

Weekend cruises can differ in price depending on the following factors:

• How far in advance you book the cruise
• What time of year you plan to cruise
• Which stateroom you select
• Whether you purchase cruise add-ons or shore excursions

Generally speaking, the further in advance you book a cruise, the cheaper your price will be. Booking a year in advance can usually net a better price than waiting until just a few weeks or months until the cruise.

This is not always the case, however, as there may sometimes be last-minute weekend cruise deals available. Last-minute deals should not be relied upon, though, and the last thing you want to happen is have a weekend cruise sell out before you can book it!

The time of year you sail can be one of the biggest factors in determining how much a weekend cruise will cost. Summer months and holidays can bring the highest prices due to demand, whereas the months of January, February, September (excluding Labor Day weekend), October, and November (excluding Thanksgiving) tend to be cheaper.

The category of stateroom you select can also make a big difference on the overall cost of a weekend cruise. Interior staterooms will almost always be the cheapest stateroom category available.

Interior rooms can actually make a fantastic stateroom choice for a weekend cruise. Not only will you save money, but with such a short cruise, it’s unlikely you will be spending much time at all in your stateroom anyway. There is so much to do onboard a Royal Caribbean weekend cruise that you might only be in your room to shower and sleep!

Cost of cruise add-ons and excursions

One of the biggest benefits to booking a weekend cruise is that booking a dining or beverage package comes with less of a “sticker shock” than on a longer sailing.

If a beverage package is priced at $75/day on a 7-night cruise, your total cost will be over $500 plus gratuities! If that same price is offered on a 3-night cruise, you’ll only be shelling out around $225 plus gratuities.

This can make purchasing a beverage package much more enticing. Plus, it’s unlikely you will get bored or tired of drinking on a short cruise. It’s common for many passengers to order fewer drinks as the days go on during a longer cruise, thus not getting the full value of their drink package. 3-nights is a more reasonable amount of time to enjoy unlimited tropical cocktails, beer, wine, coffee drinks, and fresh juices without feeling like you’ve been drinking too much!

Another great thing about the majority of Royal Caribbean’s weekend cruises is that they include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. It’s extremely easy to spend an entire day at CocoCay without spending anything extra, as food, beaches, pools, hammocks, and more are included in your cruise fare. Drink packages work on the island, too, meaning you won’t have to budget anything extra for drinks.

Pros and cons of weekend cruises

Pro: Relaxing getaway

A weekend cruise can offer a much-needed getaway for many passengers. Being able to leave any stress at home and visit multiple tropical destinations in a short amount of time is simply a wonderful way to spend a weekend.

Cruises tend to be much more relaxing than other weekend getaways as well. There’s no need to worry about constantly driving from place to place, paying high prices for food at every meal, and finding activities that are fun for both kids and adults. A cruise offers everything you need in one package.

Plus, many of the same benefits that you will receive from a longer cruise (excitement of going somewhere new, feeling pampered, etc.) you will also receive on a short sailing.

Pro: Less vacation time needed

A great benefit of a weekend cruise is that far less vacation time is needed compared to a 7-night cruise, especially if you live close to the departure port. By departing on Friday afternoon and returning Monday morning, it’s possible to take just one or two days off of work.

If you have few vacation hours or you’re saving them for a longer trip, a 3-night cruise offers the chance to have a mini-vacation without sacrificing your precious PTO time.

Pro: Ability to splurge

A shorter cruise can be a great time to splurge on things like drink packages, shore excursions, and specialty dining. Knowing you don’t have to budget for a full week’s vacation might make you more willing to pay for a few extras to enhance the cruise experience.

Spending $100 for a shore excursion in Nassau may not seem as bad when you don’t have 3 or 4 other ports to visit. Likewise, booking a specialty dinner at Chops, Izumi Hibachi, or Jamie’s Italian can be a nice way to “splurge” while still having a fantastic weekend getaway.

Con: higher cost per day

A major drawback to a weekend cruise is that the cost per day of a 3-night cruise is often more expensive than the cost per day of a longer cruise. To put this into perspective, I checked the prices of two cruises: a 3-night cruise on Freedom of the Seas and a 7-night cruise on Allure of the Seas. Both sailings take place in September, just after the summer cruise season is over.

On the 3-night sailing on Freedom of the Seas, the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $1,068. This makes the cost per day $356 per room, or $178 per person.

On the 7-night sailing on Allure of the Seas, the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $1,960 total. This makes the cost per day $280 per room, or $140 per person.

While the cost per day ($178 versus $140) may not seem too drastic, it becomes much different once the cost of airfare and a pre-cruise hotel stay are added to the total cruise cost.

Let’s say you pay $300 roundtrip (per person) in airfare and $250 for a hotel the night before your cruise. This adds $850 to your total cruise cost.

The 3-night cruise now costs $1,918, making the cost per day around $639 per room, or $319 per person. The 7-night cruise, on the other hand, now costs $2,810, making the cost per day $401 per room, or around $200 per person.

Con: It’s over before you know it

Booking a 3-night cruise sounds like a perfect idea… until it’s over! Weekend cruises go by very quickly, and they seem to be over just as you are getting acquainted with the ship and settling into “vacation mode”.

While a short cruise is still better than no cruise at all, you’ll likely wish you had at least one or two more days onboard.

Read more: Is it worth it to book a 3-night cruise?

Pro and Con: Party atmosphere

Weekend cruises tend to come with a bigger party atmosphere when compared to longer sailings. Bachelor parties, wedding guests, and friend groups are common on shorter cruises… and they come onboard to party!

Whether this is a pro or con ultimately depends on your preferences. It does lead to an extremely lively atmosphere onboard, but if you’re looking for a quiet sailing, a weekend cruise may not be the best choice for you.

Have you ever been on a weekend cruise? What tips and tricks do you have for others planning 3-night Royal Caribbean cruises? Let us know in the comments!

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!

Utopia of the Seas launches in just one week, and we have our first look at what this new Royal Caribbean cruise ship looks like.

Photo by Port Canaveral

Royal Caribbean revealed everything new and different on the ship, which has a renewed focus on dining, expanding Izumi, adding outdoor seating to Giovanni's, and introducing the Spare Tire.

The new Pesky Parrot tiki bar will replace the Bionic Bar, and The Royal Railway will introduce a new train car dining experience to the fleet.

Royal Caribbean News

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• Celebrity Cruises becomes the top cruise line for wine with 18 awards
• Spotted: Has Royal Caribbean Ended BOGO Drink Package offers onboard its cruise ships?
• Utopia of the Seas will have Royal Caribbean’s new elevators that cruise ship passengers will love
• Tropical Storm Beryl forces Royal Caribbean to delay cruise ship return
• Stop bringing these 4 banned things on your Royal Caribbean cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean will do another World Cruise, despite being "extremely complicated" and "massively expensive”
• Royal Caribbean is testing a way to track your kids on the world's largest cruise ship
• Everything I ate on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas

New RCB Video: Boarding the world’s newest cruise ship: 7 hours on Utopia of the Seas

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 — Boarding the world’s newest cruise ship: 7 hours on Utopia of the Seas — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean's private beach club in Mexico looks stunning

Royal Caribbean's exclusive beach club in Cozumel, Mexico, is set to open in 2026.

Although there's still a lot of progress to be made, we took a look at some sneak peek photos shared in a webinar this week.

New details include great views, with access to 17 acres of beaches, pools, and scenery.

Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's best cruise ship ever

New cruise ships always have a certain amount of hype to them, but Icon of the Seas seems to have earned it all.

After sailing on Icon again, Matt thinks it's easily the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship he's sailed on and raises the standard all other cruise ships are judged against.

From the innovations added, to the superior dining choices, and lack of crowds, Icon of the Seas is Matt's favorite ship.

Royal Caribbean will not give away free Wi-Fi on its cruise ships, CEO says

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International recently explained why WiFi on Royal Caribbean ships is so expensive.

The cruise line doesn't plan on giving away WiFi like hotels on land, and there's a good reason why.

Cruise ships must get their Internet from satellites in space, which costs a lot more to maintain.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 539th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available.

Does Icon of the Seas still hold up months after her debut? Matt shares his thoughts while onboard Icon with Beci Mahnken from MEI Travel.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Parents might have an easier way to keep tabs on their kids while on a cruise ship.

A passenger on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas shared on social media a new test underway that allows parents to track the location of their kids.

Shannon Sinclair posted photos of a new "Kidfinder" that is available in a limited test at the Adventure Ocean kids club.

The device is a waterproof bracelet that allows parents to track the bracelet's location via the Royal Caribbean app.

Read more: Royal Caribbean app guide and walkthrough

"We just got on the Icon of the Seas today and they are piloting Kidfinder," she wrote on Facebook.

According to Ms. Sinclair, the Kidfinder is for kids under 12 years old and under and parents can sign up for the option at Adventure Ocean.

When you sign up for the Kidfinder, parents can choose which cruise ship passengers can track the kids.  This means potentially parents, older siblings, or friends and family can opt into it as well.

You put the bracelet on the kids, and it works anywhere around the ship.

Ms. Sinclair likes the idea for the peace of mind it provides, "My son is 11 and with his older sibling exploring. It’s nice I can track them now. Also if your child is with the other parent or family member you could track them."

This test isn't meant to replace parenting, but rather, give parents another tool to know where their kids are located. It's not uncommon to hear an occasional announcement over the public address system requesting a certain guest go to Guest Services, and the Kidfinder could reduce the need for such announcements.

She added there is no cost to use it, it's free to register at Adventure Ocean.

This is the first we've heard of such an option, and it sounds like it's only being tested at the moment on Icon of the Seas.  There's no indication yet if the Kidfinder will be available on other ships, or even subsequent Icon of the Seas sailings.

One commenter on the Facebook post added this is similar to what Princess Cruises offers already with their Medallion program.

"Everyone gets one of these, on Princess cruise line. We love them! You walk up to your cabin, and your door unlocks automatically. You can also order food and drinks from anywhere on the ship, and have it brought right to you, no matter where you are. They're very convenient," wrote Summer Schoolfield.

Unlike Apple Airtags, the Kidfinder seems to have the ability to better geolocate itself across decks of the ship and within certain venues. Moreover, Kidfinder intergrates into the Royal Caribbean app.

Read more: I tried AirTags to track my luggage on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Liz Whitfield wrote she tried Airtags previously, but with poor results, "We tried to use AirTags for our whole group (adults included) and it was a disaster. They never updated properly. So, this is great."

More new tech on Icon of the Seas

While it remains to be seen if Kidfinder will become a regular option for guests, Royal Caribbean has packed Icon of the Seas with plenty of other innovations.

Being the first in the Icon Class, Royal Caribbean developed a number of improvements and innovations because of Icon of the Seas.

Read more: Icon of the Seas is the best cruise ship ever

Some of these innovations are quite notable by passengers, such as the destination elevators.

Traditional elevators on a cruise ship tend to get overwhelmed quickly, resulting in long waits. Royal Caribbean recognized this known issue, and set about to solve it with Icon.

With destination elevators, a passenger indicates which floor they want to go to and are assigned an elevator by the computer. The result are more efficiently routed elevators and less waits.

Other innovations are not as noticeable, but still have an impact. Crew members that service each cabin have a new stateroom attendant app to track their progress between cabins. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

Stateroom attendants can use the application to not only track which cabins have been cleaned, but get real-time alerts if a guest has requested an item.

Artificial intelligence is being employed in the cruise ship's kitchens to reduce food waste, and better account for supply needs. AI takes into account unused food scrap weight and predicts how much food the ship will need for the next sailing.

Read more: How over 6,000 people are served meals every day on the world's largest cruise ship