Royal Caribbean Blog

Nothing is perfect, including going on a cruise. There are going to be pain points you encounter because you are not the only person on the ship and sometimes things happen that we have no control over.

The good news is with a little bit of knowledge and planning, you can reduce these potential problems into minute blips on the radar of fun, instead of a "my vacation is ruined" kind of occurrence.

Before you get on a cruise ship, here are 8 things we all deal with on a cruise and how to get around all of them.

Getting seasick

It is unlikely you will get seasick on your cruise, but it can happen to just about anyone.  

Royal Caribbean ships are massive vessels, equipped with precise GPS and stabilizing technology. Moreover, the Captain will regularly plot courses that take optimal routes for guest comfort.

The good news is that even if you do get seasick, feeling better quickly is very easy if you know what to do.  You can take over the counter medications or homeopathic treatments to combat the effects quickly.  Eating a green apple or something with ginger has also proven to be effective.

If you are truly concerned about getting seasick, talk to your physician about a prescription for a scopolamine patch that you wear behind your ear during the duration of the cruise.

Read more: How To Avoid Getting Sick on a Cruise

Pushy spa selling

Upsells are something no one enjoys, but sales people wouldn't do them if they didn't work.

When you schedule a spa treatment onboard, it is typical to be at least told about certain products you can buy to bring home to help combat whatever ailment or life-improving scenario that you are facing.

If you prefer to avoid the upsell all together, politely inform the crew member giving you the spa treatment at the very beginning you are not interested in purchasing any products today.  

Read more: First time cruisers: Royal Caribbean's Vitality Spa

Sitting with strangers

There are some occasions on a cruise where you might have to sit with other cruisers that you do not know.

Sometimes, being seated with someone you do not know is not desirable, so if you want to avoid being seated with other guests, here are a few tricks to try.

The most common scenario for being seated with strangers is in the main dining room. Speak to the head waiter about arranging for a private table.  This is usually not a problem, but you may have to wait a bit longer to be seated.

You will not have to worry about being seated with other guests at any of the specialty restaurants, except for Izumi hibachi or Chef's Table.  The teppanyaki dining is at communal tables, so the only way around this problem would be to buy up the entire table.

Nearly all shore excursions are group tours, so the only way around the problem is a private tour.  If you prefer to arrange your tours through Royal Caribbean, check out the Private Journeys option.

Private Journeys is the cruise line's personalized shore excursion service where you can create a tour just for your group that does exactly what you want.

Read more: How to not eat with strangers on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Stopping to do the safety drill

We all understand the importance of safety, but nothing puts a dent in your cruise fun faster than the safety drill.

Known as the muster drill, this is an obligatory drill required by maritime law where you learn about what to do in the event of an emergency onboard.

The good news is Royal Caribbean has completely changed the safety drill, so the days of going to an outer deck and lining up to hear about how to wear a life jacket are over.

The new eMuster option will be conducted via your smart device or stateroom television, and allow you to conduct the drill at your leisure on the first day of the sailing and then simply report to your muster station to complete the process.

This new approach to the safety drill is not only faster, but does not require the entire ship to stop in its tracks.

Read more: 6 really interesting facts about Royal Caribbean's new cruise safety drill

Chair hogs

If you are dreaming of grabbing a seat by the pool and enjoying a lovely day at sea, you may find the first step of that dream harder than you thought.

Commonly guests will wake up early to reserve chairs at the pool, only to return hours later to actually occupy them.

There are two ways around this problem: wake up earlier than them and get there first, or go elsewhere for a chair.

There are lots of deck chairs on your ship, and if you get up to the pool deck by mid-morning, you should have no issue getting a chair.

Another alternative is to look for chairs on other areas of the deck. You will find deck chairs away from the pool, but still offering plenty of sun and the ocean air at the forward and aft ends of the pool deck. Some ships even have hammocks and other comfortable seating in these areas.

Lines for activities

Water slides, stage shows, and even the main dining room all have one thing in common: a lot of people want to get in at the same time. The result are lines can develop.

The best advice for avoiding lines on your cruise is to either arrive earlier or later.

In the case of a line for the dining room, simply wait it out. Eventually the line will dissipate, and you could easily wait it out at a nearby bar until the line goes away.

Lines for a show at the theater can be avoided on Oasis or Quantum Class ships by reserving entertainment ahead of time.  If you are on a different ship, try to get to the theater 15-20 minutes before show time before the line develops.

Likewise, lines for signature activities are best avoided by getting there right when they open for the day, or in the late afternoon when a lot of people start getting ready for dinner.,

You can also find short lines for water slides, the Flowrider and more by trying them on the first day of your cruise or when your ship is in port and most other guests are on shore.

Read more: How to avoid the most irritating lines on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Packing on the last day

The only thing worse than the realization your cruise is coming to an end is remembering you have to pack everything up too.

While packing for a cruise vacation can be fun, packing to go home stinks.

The best advice I received is to leave a piece of luggage open in your closet and fold dirty laundry in there as you discard it.  If you do this everyday, you can reduce the amount you have to pack on the final day.

Read more: The worst cruise packing mistakes to avoid

Gaining weight

We all may think we can avoid temptation of overindulging on a cruise, but more than likely it will happen anyway.

Whether you have a sweet tooth, or simply find a lot more food than usual to try, gaining weight on a cruise vacation is not unheard of at all.

Besides skipping some of these foods, there are a few good strategies to allow you to have your cake and eat it too.

Skipping the elevator and using the stairs will burn off a few extra calories, especially over the course of your cruise.

All Royal Caribbean ships have a fitness center that offer free weights, machines, and even fitness classes. Most of the gym is complimentary (the fitness classes usually cost extra), but you don't have to abandon your gym routine while on a cruise.  

There is also a jogging track on every ship, if you prefer some outdoor activity.

The main dining room menu will also notate certain options that are a healthier choice, to make choosing the right entree easier for you.

Read more: Guide to Royal Caribbean's gym and exercise programs

Less than a day after a mob of pro-Trump supporters violently stormed the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Royal Caribbean sent an email to all of its employees to address the outrage the incident caused.

Photo by Leah Millis/Reuters

An email was sent to all Royal Caribbean employees on Thursday morning, which was shared with travel advisors.

It is not clear which Royal Caribbean executive wrote the email, but the message shares a combination of sadness, outrage, as well as hope for the future.

I had intended to make my first message of 2021 a message of hope and warm wishes. And I will still do that.

 

But for now, I am wracked with outrage, overcome with grief and worried for our country. The inexcusable acts of desecration on one of our most valued institutions should shock and appall all who love America and the democracy that we are so rightly proud of.

 

Worse, I am sad. Such anti-democratic, violent acts as we have witnessed today have crossed a long-respected line. The world has seen too many examples of mob rule, and the attack on the Capitol today will live in history as one of the more outrageous of such mob actions. There is no excuse for what happened, and I hope the thugs who perpetrated it are properly punished.

 

However, as saddened as I am, I am not discouraged. Indeed, I am hopeful. These pathetic hoodlums have gotten their moment of TV coverage. But our democracy was never in doubt.  Our institutions stood strong and performed their lawful functions. Congress has, in accordance with the constitution, certified the election. In fact, despite all the rhetoric and posturing, the actual certification process was boring — as it should be.

 

There will always be those who insist that things be their way regardless of consequences. I assume that almost half of those reading this letter preferred Trump and the rest preferred Biden.  Good for you. That is democracy and it is one of our most precious gifts. Many of you know that I love to argue . . . The challenge, the give and take all work to help us understand each other’s views and maybe change our minds.

 

The worst part of this vicious attack on the Capitol wasn’t the damage to the building or its contents. Rather, I think the worst part was the attempt to undermine faith and confidence in our institutions. And that this effort was encouraged by inexcusable rhetoric from some of our leaders. Fortunately, that effort failed. As President Bush said, “This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic — not our democratic republic.”

 

But let’s remember the important point — our society won. Our democracy prevailed. Our country will move on. This has been a terrible day for America. But it can only become more than a minor sideshow if we — the American people — allow it to. As Vice President Pence so rightly said from the podium after the interruption, “Violence never wins.  Freedom wins.” The Vice President went on to say, “This is still the people’s house.  Let’s get back to work.”

 

I, for one, will sleep well tonight. I take courage from the universal disapproval this outrage provoked. America is strong, and I am confident that we will not allow the despicable acts of a few to drive the rest of us to overreact.

 

I look forward to writing a true New Year’s greeting to you all in the near future. I promise it will be forward looking and discussing what can make us better, not more divided.

The email to all employees seems to have been originally planned as a new year welcome, but felt necessary to be sent given the significant actions that took place.

There are quotes former President George W. Bush, as well as Vice President Mike Pence in the letter, while touching on the important takeaway that the democratic institution of this country continues.

The so-called insurrection that took place on Wednesday at the Capitol claimed the lives of four people, and horrified many to see such an event take place in the capital of the United States.

The Metropolitan Police Department reports at least 14 officers were wounded during the demonstrations. Two officers were hospitalized, including one who sustained serious injuries after he was pulled into a crowd and assaulted, police said. 

So far there have been at least 70 arrests. 

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said there will be an extension of the public emergency for the next 15 days.

Royal Caribbean cruises include entertainment, dining, and will take you to different ports, but are they truly all-inclusive?

The idea of paying one price and then having your entire vacation taken care of is certainly appealing to a lot of people.

Alas, Royal Caribbean cruises are not all inclusive and have never been truly all-inclusive, but it does include a tremendous amount of value for what you pay. Royal Caribbean's pricing model has traditionally been to include a base experience, and allow guests to pay for add-ons they they want.

There are some luxury lines that are much closer to all-inclusive, but generally speaking, mass market cruise lines are rarely inclusive of everything.

Part of the rationale for keeping the experience not inclusive of everything is it helps keep the entry price lower, as well as not include things people don't want and is part of the price.

Despite the fact they are not all-inclusive, a Royal Caribbean cruise still packs a lot to enjoy, including:

• Your stateroom
• Complimentary meal service throughout the cruise for all meals and snacks
• Activities and things to do onboard the ship
• Supervised programming for children and teens
• Fitness center
• Sports activities
• Pools and outdoor amenities
• Royal Caribbean's app

The exact list of what is included depends on your ship and stateroom you choose, but you can absolutely go on a cruise and never spend another penny on extras.  

The reality is most people will opt to purchase some add-ons and extras that are not included with the cruise fare.  Here is what you can expect to find that will cost extra:

• Gratuities
• Gambling in the casino
• Alcoholic beverages
• Specialty coffees and teas
• Soft drinks
• Shore excursions
• WiFi access
• Arcade games
• Spa services
• Specialty restaurants
• Souvenirs
• Phone calls onboard
• Medical attention

Star Class

The closest thing Royal Caribbean has to all inclusive is for guests who stay in the most expensive suites on the newest ships.

Star Class suites on Oasis and Quantum Class ships include a lot of extras that would ordinarily cost extra, including beverages, specialty restaurants, wifi access and more.

Just like a traditional all inclusive resort, being in one of these suites does not include everything, as your gratuities, shore excursions, souvenirs and spa appoints still cost extra.

Of course, Star Class suites are not going to be an inexpensive option.

If your goal is to truly pay one price and have the most possible included with your cruise fare without buying extra add-ons, booking a Star Class suite is probably the closest you can get on Royal Caribbean.

Read more: What is Star Class?

How to make it all inclusive

While there is no option to turn your cruise into an all-inclusive option, you can purchase certain packages to get a lot closer to it.

Royal Caribbean offers a variety of add-ons that you can pre-purchase before your cruise begins in order to leave less costs for once you are onboard the ship.

Some can be purchased on the ship as well, but the cruise line generally discounts these packages if you buy them before the sailing begins.

Gratuities

Gratuities cover the services provided by your stateroom attendant and dining room staff, and it is an obligatory charge that is normally accrued every day of the cruise and charged per person in your group.

You have the choice of pre-paying gratuities before the cruise, or paying it on the ship.

By having your travel agent pre-pay gratuities, you can take care of that cost before you set sail.

Read more: Should you prepay gratuities?

Drink Packages

Your Royal Caribbean cruise includes some beverages, but if you want to enjoy beer, cocktails, sodas or lattes, you will have to pay for them as you go onboard.

Pay as you go is fine for an occasional drink here or there, but if you think you might consume more than one or two, or you simply want to enjoy unlimited beverages for a fixed price, then a Royal Caribbean drink package is for you.

Drink packages can be purchased before the cruise or once onboard, and include unlimited drinks for whichever package you buy.

• Deluxe Beverage Package: Includes, beer, wine by the glass, cocktails, juices, soda, coffees, tea, bottled water.
• Refreshment Package: Includes non-alcoholic beverages, juices, soda, coffees, tea, bottled water.
• Classic Soda Package: Soft drinks only

Beverage packages are extremely popular because they work as advertised: pay a flat cost and enjoy unlimited drinks (although there are a few exceptions to what the drink packages include).

If you do want to buy a drink package, be sure to buy it before the cruise to get a discount.

Read more: Is the drink package worth it on Royal Caribbean?

WiFi

If you want internet access, you will have to pay for it while on your cruise ship.

Just like the drink package, there are unlimited wifi packages you can purchase for the duration of your sailing.

Internet packages are based on how many devices you want to use at one time. You can sign out and sign in with unlimited devices, but the package allows between 1 and 5 devices to be connected at the same time.

Read more: Is Royal Caribbean WiFi worth it?

Specialty dining

Specialty restaurants are very popular on Royal Caribbean, and you can either pre-book certain restaurants before your cruise or purchase a dining package.

The unlimited dining package would be the closest thing to get to all-inclusive, as it includes dinner every night and lunch on sea days in specialty restaurants.

The "catch" with any dining package is you must wait to make reservations until you are onboard.  As long as you make reservations on the first day, there is rarely an issue with getting a spot on any day of your cruise.

You could purchase individual restaurant reservations as well before the cruise in order to pre-pay that, but if you are going to eat at more than 2 specialty restaurants, a dining package makes more financial sense.

Read more: How to know if you should buy a Royal Caribbean dining package

Photos

You will find many photo opportunties every day of your cruise, where ship photographers set up spots you and your family can pose for photos in front of backdrops or outdoors.

These photos will cost you extra, with each photo you want available for purchase in different sizes.

Royal Caribbean offers photo packages, including an unlimited photo package.

No matter how many cruises you have been on, maximizing your cruise experience is important to everyone.

In order to have the best time possible, there are some important times you should speak to a travel agent, crew member, or even your own family to talk about an issue that can either improve your cruise, or prevent a problem from occurring.

One of the biggest mistakes someone on a cruise ship will make is not saying something if they encounter a problem.  No one wants to be a bother, but the crew members are there to make your vacation as seamless as possible.

1. Can I have my food without that?

Whether you have a food allergy or simply do not like a particular ingredient, always ask the crew member if you can have your meal made without it.

Crew members in the main dining room, Windjammer buffet, or any other dining venue are happy to adjust ingredients to make sure it is to your liking. Food allergies are a major reason many people need a dish adjusted, but you can also ask for changes out of personal preference.

If you want extra cheese, no onions, or sauce on the side, you should absolutely let the crew member taking your order know how you like your food.

It is a good idea if you have a food allergy to speak to the head waiter on the first day of the cruise to ensure the chef can prepare your meal exactly the way you need it, without a delay. 

Once you speak with him or her, you can convey any special requests you may have and get it in place for the rest of your cruise.

You can also send an e-mail request to [email protected]; please include in the e-mail the guests' names, booking number, ship name and sail date.  It's best to make requests like this at least 90 days in advance of your sailing.

Read more: 25 must-read Royal Caribbean dining secrets

2. Is there a better price?

Just because you booked your cruise, shore excursion or drink package does not mean you are done getting the best price out there.

Prices change, and Royal Caribbean allows a great deal of flexibility in rebooking under the lower price.

Whenever a new sale is announced, it is a good idea to ask your travel agent if the cruise you have booked is any cheaper.  In most countries, you can rebook your cruise at the lower price with no penalty up until final payment date.

Under the Cruise with Confidence program, Royal Caribbean has extended the ability to re-price cruises even after final payment with an expanded Best Price Guarantee program. For the time being, you can reprice your cruise all the way up to 48 hours before it sails if there is a price drop.

The prices of cruise add-ons, like ship wifi, beverage packages, excursions, and specialty dining packages can vary quite a lot.  You can easily cancel the purchase and then re-purchase the same item if you find a better price later.

Read more: How far in advance should I book a cruise to get the best price?

3. What else is open right now?

When it is time to eat any meal, do not assume your choices are only the main dining room or Windjammer.

Royal Caribbean's cruise ships offer a lot of dining choices, and you should always look at the full breadth of choices for where you can dine at for any meal.

Embarkation day is the perfect time to put this plan into action.  Nearly everyone goes to the Windjammer after they get on the cruise ship, but you can also get food at places like Park Cafe, Cafe Promenade or even a specialty restaurant.

If your ship has Solarium Bistro, this is a vastly underrated complimentary restaurant available for all meals on Oasis and Quantum Class ships.

Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis Class ships, and has a fee for lunch and dinner on all ships.

Consult the Cruise Compass for a list of which restaurants are open before you head to the "usual spot".  You can save time and maybe even find something else equally good to enjoy.

Read more: The 25 BEST Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets!

4. Can I come back later?

No one likes waiting in line, so if you run into a line of people, you should determine if you really need to wait right now.

Sometimes you have no choice to wait in line, such as for a show, but if you run into a line of people waiting for the main dining room, guest services, water slides, or ordering drinks at a bar, you might want to reconsider.

Just like deciding where to eat, you may find it advantageous to come back again later when the line is shorter, or to a different venue entirely.

If you are a suite guest, avoid lines at Guest Services by speaking to the suite concierge.

Long line for the dining room? Grab a drink at a nearby bar until the line diminishes.

Water slide line backed up? Come back closer to dinner time or right when they open in the morning.

Waiting in a line is not completely avoidable, but there are many times when lines can be circumvented by thinking about alternate options.

Read more: How to avoid the most irritating lines on a Royal Caribbean cruise

5. Am I wasting money right now?

No one wants to waste money on vacation, so it is important to think about what you are buying to ensure you are staying within your budget.

Royal Caribbean is a business after all, and they have some well-thought out ways to get you to spend more money.  When you purchase an unlimited dining package, The Key, or a drink package, you want to make sure you are getting your money's worth out of them.

Before you purchase an add-on, consider your habits and realistically how you think you will take advantage of it. Does it make more sense to buy a 3-night dining package instead of the unlimited dining package? Would you be better off checking your email at free/low cost wifi spots in the islands you are visiting rather than a wifi package?

If you do go ahead with the purchase, think about how to best maximize the value.  Don't skip meals with the dining packages, visit the concierge lounge each night if you are staying in a suite, go to all the limited access opportunities if you bought The Key.

Not fully taking advantage of what you are paying for will end up costing you in the long run, so be certain you are getting all the value from what you spent.

Read more: How to maximize the value of a cruise ship suite

6. Do I have all the documentation for this cruise?

A common rookie mistake is not checking that you have all the right documentation for a cruise.

If you don't have a passport, be sure to get one. If you do have a passport, double check the expiration date that it will not expire before your cruise ends.

Make sure you booked the cruise under your legal name, which matches what your passport has listed.

Not only should you ask this question, but ask it well in advance of your cruise. All too often, people dig out their passports or birth certificates only to realize it is too late to change things.

Read more: Do you need a passport for a cruise?

7. Will we enjoy this shore excursion?

You might already be in the practice of asking this question, especially if you’ve got kids. When you book a shore excursion, think about everyone in your group and if they will actually enjoy the tour you are going to book.

If someone has mobility issues, will this tour be an issue for that person to get around? Does the excursion you booked that includes lunch have something your children will actually eat? Is your fear of heights going to prevent you from enjoying the zip line?

There are a lot of great tours to choose from, so be sure to double check that it is truly a good fit and you and your family are up to the challenges or demands it may have.

This is especially true of younger children, where there are age restrictions. Just because your child is old enough, does not mean they are necessarily ready to tackle the tour and the last thing you want to do is have a meltdown or crying fit. Some tours could be too intimidating, or physically demanding for the kids, so be realistic about what you book.

A good strategy might be to look for a YouTube video of that tour (or something similar) before your trip to get a sense of if it will be a good fit. You do not want to try to push them to try something that could ruin both of your experiences.

Read more: A complete guide to picking the perfect shore excursions

8. Can you help me with this problem?

Perhaps the most important question you can ask onboard is how to get a problem you are encountering fixed.

If something is disappointing you, or not as expected, you should seek out a crew member to remedy the problem.

Whether it is a broken fixture in your stateroom, another guest causing a problem, or a medical concern, don't just suck it up and let it ruin your cruise.

Instead, speak up and ask a crew member politely how they can assist in getting this problem resolved. 

Crew members are there to make your cruise fantastic, and they will do what they can to address your concerns. Even if you think there probably is no chance they can do something, you never know the lengths crew will go to enhance your trip.

Read more: The top crew members to find if you have a problem onboard your cruise

9. How are you?

This may seem trivial, but you should absolutely feel free to strike up a conversation with a crew member.

Crew members work very hard, and they are also very friendly and great to talk to (provided they are not super busy with their duties at the moment).

If you are at a bar, or walking out of your stateroom, or at dinner, ask the crew member nearby who is your waiter, attendant or officer about themselves and how long they have worked for the cruise line.  Perhaps ask them for advice on what they like to do in the ports you will be visiting on a cruise.  Crew members are knowledgeable, helpful, and can be a great resource.

Asking someone how they are doing is not limited to crew members, so be sure to also be as friendly to your fellow guests. You never know what new friends you can make on a cruise.

Read more: 10 of our favorite Royal Caribbean crew members

New legislation introduced to the Florida Legislature looks like it could override the recent ban of cruise ships by residents of Key West.

In November 2020, Key West residents voted to approve a limit on cruise ship traffic to Key West. The three proposals effectively ban large cruise ships from Key West, such as the entire fleet of Royal Caribbean vessels.

Florida State Senator Jim Boyd of District 21 introduced a new bill that would "restrict or regulate commerce in the seaports", such as Key West.

The bill spells out the economic benefit Florida's ports have, and proposes to disallow local government's ability to restrict communities or cities from limiting maritime traffic.

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a local government may not restrict or regulate commerce in the seaports of this state, as listed in s. 311.09, including, but not  limited to, regulating or restricting a vessel’s type or size, source or type of cargo, or number, origin, or nationality of  passengers. All such matters are expressly preempted to the state.

The wording of the proposed bill seems it could contradict Key West's voter-approved amendments to the City Charter.

The new rules for Key West that passed are as follows:

• Limit the number of daily cruise ship visitors at 1,500
• Prohibit cruise ships with 1,300 passengers or more from docking
• Give docking priority to cruise lines that have the best health and environmental records

The group behind the proposal, Key West Committee for Safer Cleaner Ships, said they expected a legal challenge like this to occur after the referendum was passed, "While we expect corporate powers to challenge the new laws in court and in the monied halls of Tallahassee, one thing is certain: the City Commission now has an unquestionable mandate to defend this legislation against any and all opponents."

State Senator Boyd indicated in the bill that allowing cities to have its own rules about "maritime commerce" could create a problem for the state.

"Allowing each local government in which a Florida seaport is located to impose its own requirements on the maritime commerce conducted in that port could result in abrupt changes in the supply lines bringing goods into and out of this state, thus disrupting Florida’s economy and threatening the public’s health, safety, and welfare."

Following the November election, private Key West businesses (such as the owner of the pier) voiced their displeasure with the law and indicated legal action could follow.

The only Royal Caribbean cruise ships small enough to visit Key West would be the Vision or Radiance Class ships, such as Brilliance of the Seas or Vision of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean has not altered any scheduled sailings that include a stop in Key West as of yet.

In 2019, Key West had its busiest year with 417 cruise ship visits that brought 965,000 passengers.

Where should your first Royal Caribbean cruise go if you are a first time cruiser?

There are so many different itineraries out there, it can be daunting to pick the right sailing for someone who is brand new to cruising. Between the different destinations, ships, and prices to consider, it can be a bit overwhelming.

The good news is there are rarely any bad itinerary choices for a cruise, regardless of if it is your first or fiftieth sailing. All of Royal Caribbean's cruises are welcoming to all experiences, and more often people that are new to cruising make up the majority of guests onboard.

Choosing where your ship goes is not as critical as it may seem, since the ship you sail on is equally as intriguing as the ports you visit. While cruise ships used to be glorified floating hotels in the past, today the ship you sail on is as big a draw as the ports of call you will visit.

In order to make the choice a bit simpler for someone brand new to cruising, here are a few good choices for a first cruise and one mistake to avoid.

Perfect Day at CocoCay cruise

If all else fails, pick a cruise with a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay for your first cruise.

CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, and it was recently enhanced in 2019 to offer a crowd-pleasing experience to all.  There are beaches to enjoy, a giant pool to lounge in, water park to check out, and lots of excursions, cabanas and more to enjoy.

Similar to how Royal Caribbean designs its cruise ships, CocoCay is filled with plenty so that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Read more: 10 things you didn't know about Perfect Day at CocoCay

Many Caribbean and Bahamas sailings will stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, so you have a good chance of finding a cruise that goes here.  If you pick a short sailing (3 or 4 nights), almost certainly CocoCay will be the stop you make.  Longer sailings will feature it as part of a list of stops.

CocoCay is a fantastic choice for any sailing, and you should lean towards picking any cruise that goes here.

Read more: Do's and Don'ts of Perfect Day at CocoCay

Western Caribbean

A cruise to the Western Caribbean means visiting places in Mexico and Central America, and this means a good mix of culture, history and food.

Cruises to Mexico have always been popular, and because there is so much to do in this region, it makes it a great place for first time cruisers.

Many Western Caribbean ports are well-known for their snorkeling and scuba options (especially Cozumel and Belize), and you will find lots of tours that can take you to see Mayan ruins, swim with dolphins and more.

The Western Caribbean is also the best place in the Caribbean to find all-inclusive resort options, where you can pay one price and enjoy access to unlimited food and drink, as well as the resort's facilities. These are a big hit with families for the value they provide.  

Read more: Things to do in Cozumel on your Royal Caribbean cruise

Eastern Caribbean

If you love the beach, then you will love an Eastern Caribbean cruise.

The beaches in the Eastern Caribbean are beautiful, and you will find the picturesque white sand and light blue waters so many people dream about in the Virgin Islands and destinations beyond.

Your Eastern Caribbean cruise may also include a stop at Royal Caribbean's other private destination, Labadee.  Labadee may not offer all the whiz-bang choices that CocoCay does, but it makes up for it in a classic and relaxing beach day. 

If you enjoy more than just laying around the beach, Labadee has a giant zip line, alpine coaster and excursions to book too.

The Eastern Caribbean is also known for great shopping, as well as where you can visit Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Read more: Do's & Don'ts of Labadee

Round trip Alaska

While a warm Caribbean sailing usually draws the attention of first time cruisers, an Alaska cruise is not to be overlooked either.

Alaska is worthy of visiting for just about anyone, and a cruise is a great way to see The Last Frontier.

If you do decide to go on an Alaska cruise, be sure to book a round trip cruise, as opposed to one that begins in one port and ends in another.  

Round trip cruises are easier to plan, and they sail from Seattle (instead of an international flight to Canada).  These sailings are also on larger and newer cruise ships, which are more welcoming to new cruisers.

Read more: 6 mistakes & 3 things we did right on our Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska

Avoid long cruises

If there is one itinerary to avoid, it would be a cruise longer than 7-nights in duration, such as a repositioning cruise.

These cruises are intriguing, but they may simply be a bit too overwhelming for a first time cruiser.  

Once your sailing gets beyond 7-nights, you start to rack up a lot of sea days and first time cruisers would be best served with a sailing that has a good mix of sea days and port days, rather than a heavy dose of just one.

Repositioning sailings (cruises that begin in one port and end in another) are fun for established cruisers, but the many sea days and logistics in planning getting to and home from the cruise make it not recommended for a first sailing.

The other issue with any cruise longer than 7-nights is they are prohibited by the U.S. government for the time being.

Save these cruises for once you have a couple of other cruises under your belt.

Read more: Repositioning cruises 2021 & 2022

Believe it or not, you can get a free Royal Caribbean cruise. For reals.

Free cruise offers always sound suspicious, and with good reason. There are plenty of scams on the internet that promise free cruises, but there are also some sanctioned ways to get a free cruise.

What constitutes "free"? Essentially, an offer to not pay anything more for the cruise fare (other than perhaps taxes and fees).  That is not to say you may not have to spend money elsewhere in order to qualify for a free cruise.

In addition, a free cruise means you will still have to pay for cruise add-on costs, such as gratuities, shore excursions, drinks, etc. Plus there are other travel expenses that may be required to get you to and from the cruise.

Here is what you need (in addition to a little bit of luck) to snag a free cruise.

Casino offers

If you gamble enough in the casino on a Royal Caribbean cruise, you can qualify for a free cruise (as well as other offers and discounts).

Casino Royale recognizes its top spenders, much like Crown and Anchor Society gives rewards to people who cruise the most.

If you can spend enough in the casino on a few cruises to qualify for entry into the program, free cruises are one of the perks regularly offered to members.

The best way to get into Casino Royale as a member is to speak to the casino host once you get on a cruise and ask to be tracked in order to join the program.

Organize a group

If you cruise with enough friends or family, you could get a free cruise for yourself too.

Typically a group can be created if 16 full-fare guests in eight staterooms are booked with the same travel agent. If so, you can qualify to be the tour leader (sometimes called tour conductor) and create a group.

By creating a group with the Royal Caribbean groups department, the tour leader can earn a percentage of the cost of all the rooms that can be redeemed towards the cost of your cruise fare.

The amount of credit you get depends on what your friends or family book.  The more they spend on the rooms, the more you get in tour conductor credits.

You could also just pocket the money or apply it in other ways to the cruise.  

Being a tour conductor is one of the best ways to spend as little as possible and get a free cruise among all of the methods outlined in this post.

Read more: How to get cheap cruise deals

Credit card points

Depending on the credit card you have, there may be an option to pay down the cost of a cruise or even earn a free sailing.

The Royal Caribbean credit card is the simplest way to earn free cruises. Spend enough on your credit card to earn points, and with enough points saved, you can redeem the points for a free cruise.

Other credit cards partner with various outlets to provide ways to redeem their points for travel, including cruises.

Using credit card points to redeem a free cruise is rarely a great value in terms of credit card point strategies, but it is an option for anyone with a lot of points.

Read more: How to book a cruise with your credit card reward points

Contests

On some rare occasions, there are actually free cruises offered in contests.  

Royal Caribbean will infrequently offer a contest for a free cruise, but they are few and far between.

More commonly, you may find local radio stations or car dealerships offering a free cruise from time to time.

The bottom line is contest to offer free cruises are very rare, but they do exist. It is very important to be leery of any free offer, especially offers you see on social media. Double check the entity offering is legitimate and not a copycat information collecting scam.

Mobile games

There is a free game you can play on your computer or mobile device called MyVegas, which from time to time offers free cruises and onboard credit.

Playing MyVegas means choosing between different games, such as blackjack or slots, and winning points that go towards your profile.The games reward you for getting to the next level.

If you play the game regularly and earn enough points, you can actually cash out the points for special offers, including free cruises or onboard credits. MyVegas offers these kind of offers for other cruise lines as well, including MSC or Norwegian Cruise Line.

The availability of a free Royal Caribbean cruise will vary and is not always available as an option.

Read more: 5 Royal Caribbean things you had no idea existed

Bingo

Royal Caribbean gives away cruises as part of the grand prize in some bingo games on a ship.

Instead of a cash prize, passengers can compete to win a free cruise sailing if they were to win bingo.

There are terms and conditions to which sailings and ships apply to the free cruise, but is indeed free cruise fare for at least two passengers for a sailing you can pick.

In the void of cruise ships being able to sail, there has been plenty of speculation by cruise fans on what might happen in the near future.

While sharing opinions of what is happening in the cruise industry is not new, unfortunately a lot of these rumors get repeated enough that it seems to be referred to as fact in some discussion boards.

Having seen so many of these discussions on social media, there seems to be a few of these "predictions" that are passed around as the truth. The illusory truth effect is the tendency to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposure, and there is belief in many circles that this is the case.

Cruises will be shutdown for at least a year in March, so rosy optimism is not expected.  However, it is important to remember what has been confirmed, versus what we still have not heard about.

Here is a list of some commonly shared cruise ship rumors that have not been verified or announced by Royal Caribbean.

You will need to get the vaccine to go on a cruise

Ever since a vaccines became a reality, many cruise fans think the cruise lines will require them in order to get onboard the ship.

Despite the fact no cruise line has officially announced any such policy, many believe Royal Caribbean will mandate guests prove they have a vaccine in order to get on a cruise.

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain said recently he thinks vaccines will play a critical part in  getting cruise ships back in service one their effect begins to take hold, "Today we envision that the key, but not the exclusive factor, will be the vaccines rather than purely the protocols."

"Although the first cruises will be later than we expected, the resumption of cruising will ramp up faster and be more robust."

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said his company is looking into whether or not being vaccinated can be required of cruise passengers.

In the meantime, no one knows yet if you will need to prove you have the vaccine in order to get on a cruise, but plenty of people seem to think it will be.

Read more: Royal Caribbean CEO says vaccines, not new protocols, will be what gets cruises going again

Back to back cruises won't be allowed

Ever since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released its rules as part of the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, there has been concern consecutive cruises would be banned.

The source of this rumor is in the fact the CDC says cruises may not exceed 7-nights.  This has lead some people to believe a back-to-back cruise (two cruises in a row by the same guest) would be prohibited.

Nowhere in the CDC's Conditional Sail Order, or in Royal Caribbean's protocols for cruises in Singapore, does it state guests may not go on a back to back cruise.

Some readers have told me a travel agent was informed by some cruise line that booking back to back sailings was not allowed, although I have yet to see this policy written out.

Read more: What does the Conditional Sailing Order mean for cruises to restart?

Pessimistic predictions on when cruise ships might sail again

In the absence of cruises, plenty of cruise fans have taken to making predictions when cruises might actually restart again.

Like many of these rumors, instead of including the words, "I think" before they share a guess, random dates are presented as fact based on how they feel that day.

Similar to how the stock market goes down when bad news comes out, predictions of when cruises might restart tend to have an optimistic or pessimistic take depending on what else is happening in the world.

Read more: No, nobody knows if the cruise you have booked will actually sail

Guesses when the next round of cancellations will happen

If cruise fans are not guessing when cruises might restart, the other time honored tradition has becoming predicting when the next round of cancellations will be announced.

There has been no consistent pattern to when Royal Caribbean (or any cruise line) announces new cancellations, but that has not stopped many from posting on social media to expect cancellations on Fridays, after 5pm, before 9am, or when the moon aligns with Jupiter.

Just like cruise ships resuming cruises, no one really knows when to expect new cancellations. Royal Caribbean has very rarely given any hint of when to expect more cancellations. 

While there has been a trend when one of the "big three" cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, Carnival or NCL) announce cancellations the others eventually do the same, the exact timing is anything but predictable.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Cancellations - Updates, Refunds & FAQs

What have you heard?

Is there a a juicy rumor that you have seen repeated so many times that most seem to think it will be a fact? Which of these do you think may actually turn out to be true?

Share your favorites in the comments below.

A new year means the official start to wave season, and Royal Caribbean has just released its offer for 2021.

Wave season is an industry term for the time of year when cruise lines tend to offer their best promotion. It traditionally takes place between January and March and is not just an arbitrary time of year to offer cruise deals.

A lot of people typically book cruises in the early months of year as a result of wanting to plan their vacations for later, as well as being influenced by cold temperatures now that compel them to think of a tropical cruise vacation.

In order to take advantage of higher demand, all the cruise lines roll out new promotions and incentives to get their share of the new bookings.

Like all Royal Caribbean promotions, wave season does not necessarily mean the absolute lowest price you will find, but it may mean a different type of offer or add-on.

If you follow the Royal Caribbean marketing process, you are keenly aware there are sales throughout the year, so what makes wave season stand out? Essentially, the sale period for wave season offers lasts longer and you may find bonuses to add-on.

As with any sale, the wave season offer is a good opportunity to price shop and check if your existing bookings qualify for a lower rate, or if you have been eyeing a new booking, seeing where prices stand.

Royal Caribbean's Wave Season offer

Royal Caribbean's Wave Season sale runs between January 5 - 31, 2021 and includes 60% off the second guest, plus instant savings on 2021 cruises.

The BOGO60 offer must be booked between January 5 – January 31, 2021 and is valid on select sailings departing on or after March 1, 2021. 

It includes:

• 60% savings off the price of cruise fare of the second guest booked in the same stateroom as first, full-fare paying guest
• 30% cruise fare savings for third guests and higher booked in the same stateroom as the first two qualifying guests.
• Up to $150 USD per stateroom on select sailings departing between April 1 – September 30, 2021
  • Sailings 5 nights or less, $25 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies and Suites
  • Sailings 6 nights or longer, $50 savings for Interior and Ocean View, $75 for Balconies, and $150 for Suites

BOGO60 and 2021 Kicker are combinable with each other as well as promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, instant savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Promo Code driven offers, Free Upgrades, Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. Resident rates apply to select states on select sailings; valid address must be entered at time of booking to redeem savings. Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, and Net Rates. Promo Code driven offers are based on select ships and sail dates and must be applied at time of booking; limit one promo code per booking.

Offer available to residents of United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and select countries in the Caribbean. 

Royal Caribbean has no shortage of fun things to do on a cruise, and a few of them I have no intention of ever doing again.

Don't get me wrong, more often than not, I find some really enjoyable things to try on a cruise. But just like anything in life, some things do not jive with me.

Some are not to my liking, and other plans backfired after giving it a try. The good news is I have since learned from these experiences and wanted to share what I came up against to help you decide what to do on your sailing.

Here are the top things I will never do again on a Royal Caribbean cruise in hopes it may save you the trouble as well.

Skip buying travel insurance

When I first started to cruise, I never bought travel insurance because I thought it was a waste of money. Why should I spend money to prepare for a scenario that will very likely never happen?

I was in good health, relatively young, and had my own health insurance and coverages provided by credit cards. 

It was not until years later when we were on a cruise and my wife did not feel well, that the decision not to buy travel insurance came back to haunt me. As my wife lay in bed feeling awful, we wrestled with should we seek onboard medical care that will cost us a lot of out pocket, or save money and risk my wife's health.

That choice did not sit well with me, and so I decided to invest in travel insurance from that point forward.

The peace of mind travel insurance offers is worth it to know that if something unforeseen minor or major occurs, your first thought will not be, "Can I afford this?"

Travel insurance does not cover everything (be sure to read the policy carefully), but it is something I will never cruise without again.

Read more: Why you should get travel insurance for your cruise

Cruise without the drink package

When Royal Caribbean introduced the drink package a number of years ago, I never thought it would make financial sense to me.

Ultimately what changed my mind is a drink package makes it so easy to budget for a cruise.

Somewhat similar to the travel insurance example, when I do not have a drink package I torment myself mentally with the question of do I need a drink, or can I go longer and save money without it?

I found getting a drink package reduced that sort of mental anguish, and allows me to do what I love to do on a cruise: relax and enjoy my time onboard.

Moreover, the convenience of the drink package and value it provides by including not just alcoholic drinks makes it a slam dunk decision going forward.

By pre-purchasing and taking advantage of drink package sales, I have found a drink package to be a worthwhile investment every time.

Read more: Is the drink package worth it on Royal Caribbean?

Skip pre-paying gratuities

The bill at the end of the cruise that has all of our onboard charges is never something I look forward to seeing, and the option to pre-pay gratuities really helps keep these costs down.

Royal Caribbean gives guests the choice of pre-paying gratuities before the cruise, or having them accrue each evening while onboard.

I never used to mind the daily charges, but they add up and I greatly value the opportunity to make spread out the overall cost of my cruise.

By pre-paying, there are two benefits: I get to avoid a larger onboard spending bill and I also lock in my gratuity rate. Royal Caribbean promises to lock in the gratuity rate at the time you pre-pay, which means if the cruise line raises the rate later, you still pay the lower amount.

Read more: Should you prepay gratuities for a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Ripcord by iFly

File this under "Things Matt personally does not have the talent to do."

When Royal Caribbean announced there would be a sky diving simulator on Quantum of the Seas, I was excited to finally try sky diving without having to jump out of an airplane. Real sky diving is something I will absolutely, positively never do because it seems entirely too frightening.

When I sailed on Quantum of the Seas, I had my opportunity to see what it was like in a safe environment. I was so excited that I even volunteered to go first in my group.

Unfortunately, I failed miserably at it and somehow ended up inverted and on the bottom, and I was as disappointed in myself as I was embarrassed.

While I have many talents, coordination is not one of them, and I have written off Ripcord by iFly as one of those "been there, done that" experiences. 

I would never tell someone else not to do it. I just know I will not be with them in line for it.

Plan to be the first person off the ship when the cruise is over

It seems easy enough when planning a cruise to squeeze it in by ensuring I will be among the first off the ship to make a flight home, or drive back in time to get to work.

The reality is getting up early enough to be among the first off the ship is anything but enjoyable.

Not only is waking up early unpleasant, a lot of other people have the exact same idea. You still end up standing in a line to disembark the ship, and it always seems no matter what early time I get out of my room to get in that line, there are always way more people waiting before me than I expect.

On top of all of that, I end up groggy and tired for the rest of the day, with a nap later in the day to recuperate. 

Instead, I strive to make plans that do not require me to be off the ship quite so early (when possible) to avoid making the last morning quite so miserable.

Stay in the same cabin as my kids

I learned this lesson at an early stage with my children: I love them, but I do not love sleeping in the same room as them.

Just like at home, my kids have different sleeping habits than I do, and I prefer them go to bed at a certain time is not necessarily the same time as me.

In addition, having four of us in one room is usually a tight fit. There are plenty of cabins for 4 people, but there is not usually a lot of space. Rooms that do have more living space for a family of four tend to be suites, and those prices do not fit in our budget.

Instead, we book two connecting rooms so that we have a common inside door between my wife and I and the kids. This way, the kids have their own space, their own beds, and their own sleep schedule. We turn off the lights, wish them a good night and close the common door.  

Moreover, two rooms means two full bathrooms. As my daughters get older, this investment is worth every penny.

Getting two rooms is not as expensive as it sounds, and even if we have to move down from a balcony for four people to two inside connecting rooms, the added space is worth it every time.

Read more: Royal Caribbean adds connecting room feature to website search

Try to "wing it" in St. Thomas

I have generally had good luck in ports with walking off the ship and figuring things out as I go, but St. Thomas recently became the exception to that rule.

Due to the location of where your ship docks, a taxi is a must-have and if you want to go somewhere most others do not, getting a taxi became an exercise in futility.

On a cruise in 2019, I wanted to go to a part of St. Thomas no other cruise guests wanted to go. The taxi drivers were unwilling to take me because they could make more money going to higher demand tourist areas.

The result was I abandoned my plans to go there, and in the future, I will make arrangements ahead of time to avoid this issue.

Read more: Guide to visiting St. John on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Sleep in when visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay

If you think Royal Caribbean's private island is another beach day that you can sleep in before going, think again.

Perfect Day at CocoCay is an amazing destination that offers so much now, and the best strategy for getting a great spot and avoid lines is to wake up and get off the ship early.

If you are visiting the water park, being among the first off the ship is an absolute must-do so that you can avoid lines for slides later.

Being off the ship early also allows you to pick the best spots near the pool, beach, or bar. This is especially important at Oasis Lagoon.

Read more: Do's & Don'ts of Perfect Day at CocoCay

Not bring cash with me to private islands

Labadee and CocoCay are Royal Caribbean's private islands and the cruise line allows you to use your SeaPass card to pay for drinks, excursions and other incidentals.

However, the people working on the island that are not cruise line employees cannot take payment with a SeaPass card.

A few times I completely forgot to bring any cash, since it was a cruise line destination, and ended up having to go back to the ship to get cash for tips.

You will find locals working certain excursions, cabana attendants, tram drivers and more. Tipping is customary in some situations, so having a little bit of cash is a must-do from now on.

What about you?

As you can tell, this list is very subjective to my experiences and I am willing to bet many others have their own set of "never again" things.

On the RoyalCaribbeanBlog message boards, our readers shared some of their top picks for things they will never do again on a cruise:

• Sell expert lecture - Traveler
• Walk to a beach - melmar02
• Take the cruise line shuttle to the airport instead of a taxi - dawnelda
• Snorkeling in Alaska - wstephensi
• Pay cruise line prices for medication - Psycho and Barb
• Get off the ship without a porter - coneyraven

Be sure to share your own experiences in the comments below!

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