Royal Caribbean Blog

Specialty restaurants are an optional cost on a Royal Caribbean cruise to enjoy different cuisines and cooking styles, and it could cost you a nominal fee or hundreds of dollars.

Specialty dining has gotten very popular in recent years, with many cruisers electing to dine only at the extra cost restaurants.

While there's nothing wrong with the food options included in your cruise fare, eating at specialty restaurants gives you a greater variety.  Some cruisers say they eat at specialty restaurants because the food quality is better than at the complimentary restaurants.

Read more: 11 cruise fees you should know about before booking

Depending on your ship, the cost to eat at specialty restaurants could be nominal or quite high.  Here's an overview of the specialty dining costs and what to expect when you get onboard.

Specialty restaurant costs

Here is a list of all the Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants and an explanation of the costs to dine there. 

Keep in mind that prices can vary from ship to ship, as well as pre-cruise discounts being offered.

For the a la carte priced restaurants, you can look up Royal Caribbean menus to see exactly how much individual items will cost.

Read more: How does specialty dining work on Royal Caribbean?

150 Central Park

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: $69.99 per adult/$14.99 per child

Basecamp

Price structure: A la carte

Cost: Between $7-$11 for the extra cost items. Some menu items are complimentary

Chef's Table

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: $109.99 per guest

Chops Grille

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: Dinner: $69.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Lunch: $29.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Empire Supper Club

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: $200 per guest

Fish & Ships

Price structure: A la carte

Cost: Between $2 - $10.  Some menu items are complimentary

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: Dinner: $54.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Lunch: $24.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Giovanni's Italian Table

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: $49.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Lunch: $24.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Hooked

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: Dinner: $64.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Lunch: $24.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Izumi hibachi

Price structure: Cover charge. Sushi priced a la carte.

Cost: Dinner: $64.99 per adult, $54.99 per child

Lunch: $39.99 per adult, $29.99 per child

Izumi sushi

Price structure: A la carte or fixed price menu

Cost: Fixed price menu is $39.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

A la carte items range in price. Appetizers between $3-$14. Large plates between $14-$22. Desserts between $5-$6.

Costs are the same for lunch and dinner.

Jamie's Italian

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: Dinner: $54.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Lunch: $24.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Johnny Rockets

Price structure: Cover charge or a la carte, depending on the ship.

Most ships are priced with a cover charge for lunch and dinner. A few ships have a walk-up setup with a la carte pricing.

Cost: Breakfast: Complimentary (Oasis Class ships only)

Lunch and dinner: $14.99 per person on ships with cover charge. A la carte items between $2.99 and $11.00.

Mason Jar

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: Dinner: $49.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Brunch: $34.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Pier 7

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: Dinner: $24.99 per adult, Kids under 12 eat free

Brunch: $14.99 per adult, Kids under 12 eat free

Playmakers Sports Bar

Price structure: A la carte

Cost: Between $7.99 and $29.99 per item

Portside BBQ

Price structure: A la carte

Cost: Between $3.99 - $21.99 per item

Sabor

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: $24.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Samba Grill

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: $44.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Taste of Royal

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: $39.99 per adult, $19.99 per child

Wonderland

Price structure: Cover charge

Cost: $59.99 per adult, $14.99 per child

Two ways to save money on specialty dining

The prices listed are if you were to walk up to the restaurant on your Royal Caribbean ship, but you could save a lot of money on the cost with a little advanced planning.

Royal Caribbean offers two ways to pay less than the listed onboard prices, and in my experience, this is always cheaper than booking restaurants onboard the ship.

Specialty Dining Packages

If you're going to eat at more than two specialty restaurants, a Royal Caribbean dining package is the way to go.

Dining packages offer a bulk discount compared to eating at the same amount of restaurants individually.

Royal Caribbean offers a few different dining packages, but the options will vary from ship to ship. Likewise, the price of a dining package will depend on your ship and sailing.

The Unlimited Dining Package allows you to eat at as many cover charge restaurants as you like on your cruise every day, for lunch or dinner. 

The only limitation with this dining package is at a la carte restaurants, where you are limited to one dining at each a la carte restaurant once per person, per day.  When you dine at an a la carte restaurant, you're given a stipend to use towards the value of items on the menu.

Read more: Guide to the Unlimited Dining Package

Royal Caribbean also offers other dining packages, such as the 3-night Dining Package, or Chops + Your Choice (essentially a two restaurant package with one defaulting to Chops Grille).

You can pre-book dining packages on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner site.

Pre-book individual restaurants

Another way to save money on specialty dining is to pre-book a specialty restaurant before the cruise begins.

Royal Caribbean regularly offers pre-cruise discounts on specialty restaurants. The exact discount depends on your ship, sailing, and the Royal Caribbean promotion running at that time.  You can expect at worst a 10% discount off the onboard price at most restaurants.

Is specialty dining on Royal Caribbean worth it?

While there is plenty of food included with your cruise fare at no additional cost, specialty restaurants offer food you might not be able to get otherwise onboard.

The cost of specialty dining has gone up significantly in recent years, but for many cruisers, they're on vacation and simply want to splurge. 

Read more: 7 reasons to eat at specialty restaurants instead of the Main Dining Room

You can find good values, especially if you eat a lot and are not picky.  Some of the high end choices, like Chef's Table or Empire Supper Club, will cost a lot for a more intimate experience.

Anyone that wants to dine at specialty restaurants should either pre-book the restaurant or buy a dining package.  Dining packages can slash the price of an extra cost restaurant by as much as half, if you take advantage of what the package offers.

You don't have to pay for specialty dining on a cruise, but if you choose to do so, pre-planning will definitely save you money and make the cost proposition more favorable.

Booking a cruise can sometimes feel like you really have to dig to find the best value for your vacation.

Between the ships, itineraries, cabin types, and embarkation ports, it requires a lot of planning to do it right, and then you have to determine the most affordable option.

Royal Caribbean has new sales every week, and they are a smattering of BOGO deals, percentage off discounts, and freebies.  On the surface, it sounds good, but how do you know it's actually saving you money?

Here's how to know whether or not you're getting a good deal when you book a cruise.

Start tracking prices now to get a baseline

Assuming you know nothing about cruises at all, you might want to start off by simply tracking prices for cruises you're interested in and then seeing how the shift over time.

Cruise prices are specific to the ship and sailing, and it's priced more like airfare than a pair of jeans. The specific sailing on a certain date and vessel could have drastically different prices than the sailing immediately following or preceding it.

If you're more than a year before you'd like to cruise, I'd recommend tracking the price of the cruise for the specific stateroom you want in a spreadsheet or notepad on a daily or weekly basis. 

You'll probably see the most price swings when a new month rolls around, but I've seen prices change daily.

Once you start to get an idea of how much the cruise fare is going to cost, you can start evaluating new offers to determine if it's really making a difference in the cost.

Don't wait too long to pull the trigger on booking a cruise. Just like airfare, as more people book up cabins, prices tend to go up.

You should also leverage a good travel agent to help, because they track a lot of prices for clients on a daily basis. They'll have a good idea of what constitutes a good price for a spring break cruise, or a Christmas sailing.

Read more: The biggest cruise hack you're not doing that has saved me thousands of dollars

Know what 'good deal' means to you

Everyone has their own sense of what's a good deal, so don't get too wrapped up in what others think.  Ultimately, you need to feel good about the price you're getting.

Your vacation budget will be different than someone else, and maybe you are looking to get the best price on a suite, whereas others want an inside cabin. 

I spent $7,000 on a suite because it was a good deal on that type of high-end suite, but some people thought I was crazy to spend that much money on any cruise ship cabin.

Look at a variety of cabin choices across different ships, and start to get an idea of the ballpark you're considering for the cruise cost. Pretty soon you will come up with a number that you're seeing, and a number you'd like to be at before you book.

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Determine your personal priorities, and start looking for the right price with that context in mind.

What is a great deal to one cruiser may not be to another, because cruises are about being on vacation - and whether your price is good or bad is about your vacation! 

Factor in the specifics of your situation

Just as where a house is located will largely factor into the price, there are a few major factors that will greatly influence the price of a cruise.

Seasonaility: There can be major differences in a price of a cruise (as well as discount offered) from one week to the next.

High demand weeks will see far less deals than other weeks of the year. In addition, whether school is in session can also play a big part in the total price.

You might see deep discounts offered on a cruise in September, because it's hurricane season in the Caribbean and the shoulder season of Alaska and European cruises.  These bonus sales will absolutely save a lot of money, but you need to be aware of the tradeoff you might have in trying to get time off from work or school.

How close to your sail date: You might find a really good deal on a cruise more than 12 months in advance because Royal Caribbean wants to fill up rooms now for it.

Similarly, there could be a good last-minute deal on a cruise sailing in 6 weeks because of leftover unsold cabins.

There's a reason why Royal Caribbean might want to offer a better deal on one cruise over another, and it's usually due to how many cabins they've been able to sell so far, and what their internal forecasts predict going forward.

Room type: Deal is a relative term, and what makes a good price on one type of stateroom might be completely different from another.

I believe you're far more likely to find a cheap rate on an inside cabin with no windows than a balcony. That doesn't mean you should (or want to) stay in an inside cabin.

Read more: Inside cabin vs. balcony room on a cruise ship

Focus on the final price, not the promotion

Royal Caribbean rolls out sales almost every day, and they all sound great until you price things out.

My advice is skip over the name of the sale and what promotion is offered, because it's akin to window dressing. You want to skip right to the final price.

Royal Caribbean offers kids sail free, onboard credit, instant savings and more. They all sound lucrative, but quite often the final price doesn't change much.  Plus, there could be blackout dates that might prevent you from taking advantage of a specific offer.

You can safely skip over the promotion advertised, and plug in the ship and sail date you want and then see the real cost.

Happy Sunday! I would like to wish all the dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day! Hope you get to have a relaxing and fun-filled day with your family!

Utopia of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean, which means she is officially part of the fleet.

At a ceremony at the shipyard in France, the 18-deck ship was handed over to the cruise line and is now poised to offer cruises next month.

Utopia will offer 3- and 4-night cruises in order to capitalize on the weekend cruise market.

Royal Caribbean News

• First photos inside Utopia of the Seas
• Celebrity Cruises sold two expedition cruise ships in the Galapagos
• What an inside cabin on Independence of the Seas looks like
• The world's largest dry slide is coming to Royal Caribbean’s next cruise ship
• Royal Caribbean Alaska excursions: Recommended tours for each port
• What Is the Biggest Royal Caribbean ship?

New RCB Video: 5 MORE Things You Should NEVER TRUST on Your Cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 5 MORE Things You Should NEVER TRUST on Your Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

What happens when a cruise is overbooked

An oversold cruise ship is not uncommon, but usually it doesn't result in anyone being unable to cruise.

Earlier this month guests on a Symphony of the Seas sailing were asked if they'd consider changing their cruise because the ship was oversold.

They were offered essentially a full refund and a free cruise if they took the offer.

The biggest cruise ships in the world actually shrink to fit under bridges

In order for an Oasis Class cruise ship to make into New York harbor, the ship actually shrinks.

In a feat of engineering, some of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships can retract their funnels to make them small enough to fit under certain bridges.

Symphony of the Seas is the latest ship to need to do this in order to make it under the Verrazzano Narrows bridge.

I booked a room near the stairs on a low deck and it made my vacation better

I stayed in cabins on a lower deck than usual and near the stairs, and I really liked this location.

In fact, I've started booking cabins that are on a lower deck and near the staircases, and it's made my enjoyment of the cruise far better.

While it may not offer views of a higher deck, the convenience factor is worth it.

While on Independence of the Seas for a five-night Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise, I stayed in the cheapest cabin available.

Normally when I cruise, I choose to stay in cheaper cabins. My reasoning is that I only need a place to sleep, store my belongings, and get ready for the day. I don’t feel the need to spend more money to stay in a cabin I don't spend much time in!

For this particular cruise, my mom and I chose an interior guarantee cabin. These types of cabins are “guaranteed” because Royal Caribbean selects the interior cabin's location on the ship. Luckily, shortly after booking, we were assigned a cabin towards the aft of the ship. I much prefer having aft cabins because you tend to feel more movement when situated in a forward cabin.

Booking this cruise about a month before the sail date, we ended up paying $2,075 for the two of us. This included pre-paid gratuities.

We were assigned cabin 6447, on deck 6. Our cabin was just one deck above the Royal Promenade, but we were far enough away that we never heard noise from this busy area of the ship.

Cabin 6447 wasn’t located on one side of the ship (starboard or port) and was considered midship. This meant to get to our cabin, we had to go through a separate hallway.

We quickly discovered there was a door we could use that was three cabins down from us that would lead us near the elevator and stairs. We used this door every time we left or came back to our cabin because it was much more convenient than going down the two hallways.

Also, being in this separate hallway away from most of the other cabins, we found that there was little to no hall noise (except for our neighbors who had a loud baby). We were afraid we would hear people coming in and out of the public door near our cabin, but it was never noisy.

Walking into the cabin for the first time, I was instantly struck by how light everything was. I was expecting the cabin to be similar to the ones on Adventure of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, but I liked that it felt more modern with lighter colors.

The bed was separated into two per my request before the cruise. Each of us had a large nightstand next to our bed, and we had a small light above our heads. There was a switch in the middle of us that controlled all the lights in the cabin.

After reading a Royal Caribbean Blog article about questions to ask your cabin steward, my mom wanted to request a few things from our cabin steward. She requested:

• A mattress topper
• Printed copies of the Cruise Compass
• Additional hangers
• A new bed configuration
• Extra pillows
• Extra towels

My mom requested a new bed configuration because she wanted her bed (on the right) to be pushed against the wall. That way both of us could sleep against a wall. This made the twin bed feel wider, too. I really liked how this configuration created a larger walkway between our beds!

The extra pillows and mattress topper made a huge difference in the quality of sleep my mom got while on our cruise. She had never requested a mattress topper on previous cruises, so I think she will start doing this on future cruises.

Our cabin had a nicely sized couch and a glass table in front of it. We sparingly used this couch, but it was great to have another place to sit if we wanted the option.

There was a light near the couch, but it didn't work. I guess it is nice for decoration!

Across from the couch was the vanity and closet area. This included the TV, outlets, mini cooler, safe, and many drawers. The three large drawers were great for storing our clothes. There was another small drawer behind the chair, but we didn't use it.

The flat-screen TV was able to extend outward and swivel so my mom could watch TV while lying in bed or sitting on the couch.

The vanity had three outlets: Two three-prong outlets and one European outlet. I packed my adapter and I was super thankful I packed it so we could utilize the European outlet.

Next to the closet were two handles that opened up more storage spaces. The bottom drawer held the hair dryer. This drawer was small and couldn't hold much, so we didn't use it. The top drawer included three shelves - one was for the cabin’s safe. These shelves were perfect for our miscellaneous things, like hats, bags, sunscreen, medicine, etc.

Below these shelves was the mini cooler that we used to keep our water bottles cold throughout the cruise.

The closet was large and had three built-in shelves for clothes. There were only 10 hangers for the two of us (and we packed a lot of clothes), so we requested more hangers from our cabin steward. This was much appreciated!

There was someone who complained on the cruise's Facebook group about their air conditioning not working in their cabin, but ours worked great!

Next up, the bathroom. At first glance, the bathroom was updated nicely and offered lots of storage, but we did run into a few problems.

First, our toilet wouldn’t flush twice during our cruise. We had to call our cabin steward to let him know that we tried flushing numerous times with no success. He even told us other cabins around us were having similar problems. Once we reported the issue, it was fixed within an hour.

Also, the heat in the shower was quite confusing. I would turn the handle towards the heat and it would take at least five minutes to get warm. Sometimes, it would be warm and then get cold and then warm again without touching the handle. My mom and I had difficulties trying to get the knob at just the right spot so we could consistently get warm water. When it was warm, it was a pleasant shower experience.

Lastly, a small thing to point out, every time my mom and I wanted to use some toilet paper, the toilet paper would fall off the holder! We realized that we had to place our thumb on the holder so the toilet paper wouldn't fly off.

On newer Royal Caribbean ships, there is a built-in nightlight in the bathroom so when the cabin is pitch black, you can still navigate to the bathroom. However, our cabin on Independence of the Seas did not have this. We did pack a nightlight to use in our cabin and that helped tremendously.

Overall, my mom and I had a comfortable stay in our cozy cabin. Although we had some bathroom issues, this did not ruin our vacation by any means. We never felt the ship moving, and our cabin’s location proved to be ideal since it was located near the Royal Promenade and other lower-deck activities.

We're five weekends away from the official launch of Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas. 

The brand-new party ship will focus on short getaways to The Bahamas, namely Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Guests onboard the 5,668-passenger vessel can enjoy an exciting array of amenities, from exhilarating waterslides to mesmerizing high-diving shows and the cruise line's first immersive train car dining experience. 

“With the delivery of Utopia of the Seas, we have the keys to the ultimate weekend,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean takes delivery of new cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas

“This is the short vacation that packs every way to make amazing memories in a 3-night weekend or 4-night weekday getaway. Vacationers want every minute to be a minute well spent, and the unmatched combination of Utopia and Perfect Day at CocoCay will deliver that. We are proud and excited to soon debut Utopia in a big way!”

Here's a first look at the new Utopia of the Seas. 

Resort-style pool deck

The expansive pool deck is designed to be a haven for guests to soak up every moment of the Bahamian sun. With five pools—more than the days to count—, eight hot tubs, three waterslides, and a dedicated aqua park for children, there are plenty of ways to relax and play aboard Utopia of the Seas. 

Plus, with the addition of the new "food truck" dining venue, passengers don't need to travel far for a quick bite to eat. Dishing up "handheld favorites" like pulled pork sandwiches, cheeseburger flatbreads, daily rotating desserts, and more, the new dining concept is a convenient way to fuel up without straying far from the poolside fun. 

Read more: "There will be nothing better on planet Earth": First look at Royal Caribbean's new weekend party cruise ship

Royal Caribbean designed the pool deck to cater to all ages and preferences, which is why you'll find three thrilling Perfect Storm waterslides, a children's aqua park, and three Lime & Coconut bars. Whether you're seeking an adrenaline-filled afternoon or a tropical poolside cocktail, the pool deck aboard Utopia of the Seas won't disappoint. 

"From the ultimate multigenerational vacation on this year’s earlier debut of Icon of the Seas to now the ultimate weekend getaway on Utopia of the Seas, we are laser-focused on delivering a variety of vacation options and priceless memories for our guests," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

Other onboard activities include the zip line, ice skating rink, FlowRider surf simulator, miniature golf course, rock climbing walls, and Utopia Playscape for kids. 

Revamped Ultimate Abyss 

Utopia of the Seas' Ultimate Abyss is not only the cruise line's longest yet, but also the longest dry slide at sea! Measuring 259 feet long, Royal Caribbean reclaimed the title after it was stolen by MSC World Europa's 250-foot Venom Drop. 

It's 43 feet longer than the Ultimate Abyss slides on other Oasis Class ships and about 10 times longer than a London double-decker bus. 

Those brave enough to plummet down the 10-story slide will begin their adventure on Deck 16, speeding through the new transparent racing windows and zoom booster rollers for a "surprise exit" on the Boardwalk. 

Adults-only Solarium

Found at the front of the ship on Deck 15, the Solarium is a Royal Caribbean staple available to passengers 18 years and older. This adults-only area is a sanctuary of tranquility for those who might not want to be in the middle of all the action on the pool deck. 

Hideaway Beach, the adults-only beach at CocoCay, costs extra. However, it's worth the splurge for those seeking a kid-free day on the island. 

Relocated Izumi 

Though not a new dining concept, Izumi onboard Utopia of the Seas will be relocated to Central Park, a first for an Oasis Class ship. With six teppanyaki tables, Utopia's Izumi will be the largest in the fleet. 

Additionally, there will be three different dining styles: teppanyaki, sushi, and, for the first time, a private multicourse omakase-inspired dining room. There will also be a to-go sushi window to grab delicious rolls, hot gyoza, or soft-serve bubble cones for an extra charge.

Read more: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Sushi isn't everyone's favorite, though. With more than 40 ways to dine and drink, there's something for everyone on the newest ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, whether you are craving a juicy steak, fresh piece of pizza, or poolside Mexican fare. 

It will also be the only ship with the new immersive train car dining experience, Royal Railway - Utopia Station. The unique dishes, specialty cocktails, and overall ambiance promise to deliver a memorable meal while "transporting" you through different times and places, including America's Wild West. 

Fans of Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar will appreciate the revamp, as the restaurant will span two stories and feature a terrace overlooking the Boardwalk. 

Utopia of the Seas will welcome paying guests onboard for the first time on July 19

With Utopia officially in the hands of Royal Caribbean, the anticipation for the ship's inaugural voyage continues to grow. 

Departing from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, Utopia of the Seas will call at CocoCay on July 20 and Nassau on July 21 before returning to Florida and welcoming a new set of passengers onboard for a 4-night cruise, which includes one sea day. 

The ship introduces a new era of cruising, as it's the line's first ship entering service catering to the short cruising market. Rather than reserving older vessels for 3- and 4-night sailings, those loyal to the brand or curious about cruising can experience cutting-edge amenities and world-class entertainment not found on any other short cruise in the world. 

Cruise ships are engineering marvels, and they can even perform a little-known trick to fit under bridges.

Royal Caribbean recently began offering summer cruises from the New York City area on Symphony of the Seas.  Symphony is an Oasis Class ship, making it one of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

Just like sister ship Oasis of the Seas, both have retractable funnels that allow it to pass under shorter bridges.

Symphony of the Seas is indeed massive, coming in at 1,188 feet long, and encompassing 18 decks in height.

Only recently have the giant Oasis Class ships began sailing from the New York area, and a lot of people assumed it wasn't possible because of the Verrazzano Narrows bridge, which blocks access to New York harbor.

The Verrazzano bridge is 228 feet above mean high water at its midpoint, whereas Symphony of the Seas is 238 feet high.

Captain Rob Hempstead spoke to guests on a recently Symphony of the Seas sailing that the ship's funnels do retract and can do so as needed on the Oasis Class ships.

Bridges are common around major ports, and some are just tall enough for cruise ships to fit underneath them.

Captain Rob also confirmed that the funnels are still able to retract, even if a ship has been outfitted with scrubbers on them.  Scrubbers act a lot like a catalytic converter in the sense they filter out a lot of the ship's emissions from making it into the air.

The funnels telescope down to give the ship some the few extra inches it needs to fit under the bridge.

According to Captain Rob, all the Oasis Class ships are equipped with this functionality.

There's a second part to this trick, because the ship can get lower in the water by speeding up. By going faster, they squat lower into the water.

When you increase the speed in relatively confined waters, the ship has a suction effect from the bottom, and that actually makes the ship go a bit deeper into the water.

More ships can retract their funnels

It's not just the Oasis Class ships that can shrink down when necessary.

Royal Caribbean's Icon and Quantum class ships all have retractable funnels.

In fact, the brand new Icon of the Seas had to do the same thing when it departed its shipyard to begin operations.

In late November 2023, the 1,198-foot-long, 250,800 gross-ton vessel had to get from Finland to Spain, but Denmark's 11-mile Great Belt Bridge was in the way.

The cruise ship had to "lower and secure" the Icon of the Seas' funnels, allowing it to clear the Great Belt Bridge with only a few feet to spare. 

Prior to Icon, Allure of the Seas was the last cruise ship to pass underneath the Great Belt Bridge.  The second Oasis Class ship did it in October 2010 and passed with just 20 inches of clearance.

Construction for Celebrity Cruises' fifth Edge Class cruise ship has reached a major milestone.

Celebrity Xcel's keel-laying ceremony took place on June 13 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, signifying the start of the ship's physical construction. At the ceremony, Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group; Laura Hodges Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises; and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique lowered the first 739-ton steel block for the new ship. 

“Today, we not only mark the start of construction, but we are laying the foundation on which countless memories will be created,” said Liberty.

“Each new ship also represents an opportunity to advance our journey to net zero, and with Xcel, we are building our first methanol capable ship, which helps advance our transition to the energy platform of the future.”

The new Edge Class ship is scheduled to enter service in November 2025, offering 7-night cruises to The Caribbean and Bahamas.

The 5-night inaugural voyage is slated to depart on November 18, sailing to Bimini, Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico. Interior and ocean-view cabins have already sold out, despite the voyage being well over one year away. 

Prices for veranda cabins start at $1,139 per person, with suites within the luxurious Retreat going for as much as $32,800 per sailor. 

Once completed, the ship will join Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond, and Ascent as one of the most revolutionary cruise ships at sea, with features such as infinite veranda cabins, the Magic Carpet, and innovative entertainment options in state-of-the-art venues. 

“We can’t wait to debut Celebrity Xcel and her unrivaled guest experiences, living up to her name in every way with surprises that confirm ‘Nothing Comes Close’ to a Celebrity vacation,” said Bethge.

“We are grateful for the continued partnership of the Chantiers de l’Atlantique team for lending their craftsmanship to further elevate the innovative design and world-class features of our beloved Edge Series ships.”

Celebrity Xcel's coin ceremony

During the keel-laying ceremony, a newly minted coin was placed on the first piece of steel to symbolize good fortune during the ship's construction process and seafaring career. 

"The Olympic Games symbols and the representation of NASA’s Saturn V rocket engraved on the coins pay tribute to the values of team spirit, commitment, and respect promoted by Chantiers de l’Atlantique as well as the innovative characteristics of Celebrity Xcel," wrote the shipyard's Facebook.

Celebrity Xcel will feature the world's first tri-fuel capable engine

Unlike liquefied natural gas (LNG), Celebrity Xcel's engine will be able to use three types of fuel, including methanol. 

This is a first for the company and represents a crucial steppingstone on Royal Caribbean Group's journey to Destination Net Zero, their ambitious aspiration for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, was Royal Caribbean Group's first LNG ship. 

The next major milestone in Celebrity Xcel's construction is the float-out

As more blocks are welded together throughout the coming months, the ship will start to take shape. Eventually, Celebrity Xcel will be ready to move from a dry dock to a wet dock, marking a significant moment in the construction process. 

The float out isn't a quick process. Utopia of the Seas', for example, took 15 hours and more than 46 million gallons of water. 

Once afloat, the ship will undergo further outfitting before embarking on its sea trials to test certain functions that cannot be done when docked, including the main engines, hull, brake systems, steering, vibration levels, and more. Even when complete, more work has to be done before the ship can be delivered to the cruise line and welcoming guests onboard. 

Read more: How long does it take to build a cruise ship

I'm a year-round cruiser, and taking a summer cruise involves a different strategy than other times of the year.

Summer in the Caribbean is actually the off-season for the region. Many of Royal Caribbean's ships head to Europe for the summer, leaving less ships sailing in North America.  Moreover, hurricane season encompasses all of the summer and fall, which adds another factor for lower demand.

Nonetheless, I take my family on summer cruises because the time off from school makes it the perfect time to getaway.

While we do sometimes take cruises to cooler climates, such as Alaska or Europe, the bulk of our summer cruises depart somewhere from Florida.

If you're going to cruise in the Caribbean this summer, here are my best tips for not feeling like a melted ice cream puddle all the time.

Prioritize morning or night activities

Want to get a run in on the jogging track? Or want to explore San Juan? Whenever possible, try to do this in the early morning hours or after sunset.

While the pools aren't open all night, there's usually a pool and hot tub open each evening to coincide with movies shown on the big screen.

Bring extra clothes because of the sweat factor

When you're packing for a summer cruise, assume you'll sweat through your first outfit of the day, especially on days you're in port.

The humidity in the tropics is extremely high, so even just standing around will get you sweaty.

It's a good idea to bring extra shirts and underwear that you can change back into when you get on the ship.  

You could send your soiled clothes out for washing via Royal Caribbean's laundry service, but it's costly.

Read more: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

You will still need a sweater for indoor venues

While it will be hot and humid outside, inside the air conditioning will be pumping.

It's common to find the Main Dining Room, restaurants, and theaters chilly. If you're sensitive to the cold, you'll still want to bring a sweater with you.

You'll need shoes for the decks

You may not notice it at first, but the pool decks get very, very hot when in direct sunlight.  

Before you kick off your flip flips at the pool, keep them nearby when you want to talk to get ice cream or head to the bar.

Don't overdo it

It's easy to feel compelled to "go, go, go!" every day of your cruise, but the heat and humidity combination will hit you harder in the summer. Your body will struggle to keep up when the sun is bright and the humidity is above 80.

Schedule breaks during the day in port and on shore.  Taking an afternoon nap in your air conditioned cabin can feel so nice.  Or opt for shore excursions that include a beach break in them over arduous city touring. 

Another idea is to switch between "beach day" and "touring day".  Rather than doing a bunch of exploring every day, try to work in relaxing days at the beach to reset your body.

Look for indoor activities on sea days

While your Royal Caribbean ship will have lots of fun activities around the pool deck, you could opt for indoor activities.

Trivia, bumper cars, demonstrations, and bingo are all held in climate controlled environments, and it can make a big difference not being outside.

Hit the water slides as soon as they open in the morning

Going down water slides is fun, but there are two good reasons to try the slides in the morning as soon as they open.

First, the lines will be shorter when they first open.  Most passengers like to sleep in and take it easy, and then hit the pool deck in the late morning. Going on the slides as soon as they open means you can get a few runs in with less of a line.

Second, the sun isn't as strong in the morning compared to later in the day. That means time spent waiting your turn won't be as hot.

Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water is a very important step on any summer cruise.

Bring bottled water with you on shore excursions, and drink plenty of water onboard. You can get free water from any restaurant, and there are refill stations around the ship.

Many people will bring their own hydro flask or Yeti bottle with them to ensure they have more water with them at all times.

Read more: 40 essential things to bring on a cruise

Before you go on a shore excursion, be sure to fill your water bottle or bring a couple of bottles of water with you from the ship. 

Prepare for shore excursions

Before you head out for any shore excursion, be sure to take a few important steps.

• Wear a hat
• Wear light colored clothes
• Wear dry wicking clothes (bonus if it's SPF clothing)
• Apply sunscreen before you leave the cabin

Some people bring neck fans or cooling towels to wear. I'm not sold on them, but recognize there are people that use them, so it must work for them.

Most shore excursions provide water, but we’ve always appreciated having more with us.

Apply and re-apply sunscreen

Bring waterproof and reef safe sunscreen in a high SPF value to ensure you don't get sunburned (contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra).

Not applying sunscreen often is one of the most common cruise mistakes we see others making.

It's a good idea to apply it before you leave the ship so it's working as soon as you step off the gangway.

There's a new Royal Caribbean cruise ship joining its fleet.

Measuring 1,188 feet, Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas was delivered today at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France and is on schedule for her maiden voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida to The Bahamas on July 19, 2024.

Delivery of the ship signifies transfer of ownership of a new cruise ship.

The 18-deck cruise ship has a maximum capacity for 5,668 guests and 2,290 crew members. That's a total of up to 7,958 people.

Utopia of the Seas delivered

Executives from Royal Caribbean took delivery of the ship at a ceremony at the shipyard.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley and General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique Laurent Castaing hosted Utopia’s first party of many to recognize the achievements of the nautical engineers, designers, architects and more.

"Taking delivery of Utopia of the Seas is an incredibly important milestone, as it marks yet another evolution of our game-changing ships and our mission to create the best vacation experiences responsibly," said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. 

"From the ultimate multigenerational vacation on this year’s earlier debut of Icon of the Seas to now the ultimate weekend getaway on Utopia of the Seas, we are laser-focused on delivering a variety of vacation options and priceless memories for our guests."

"With the delivery of Utopia of the Seas, we have the keys to the ultimate weekend," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. 

"This is the short vacation that packs every way to make amazing memories in a 3-night weekend or 4-night weekday getaway. Vacationers want every minute to be a minute well spent, and the unmatched combination of Utopia and Perfect Day at CocoCay will deliver that. We are proud and excited to soon debut Utopia in a big way!"

Utopia is the sixth vessel of the venerable Oasis Class, and is now the second largest cruise ship in the world, measuring 211 feet wide and 1,188 feet long. 

She is not as big as Icon of the Seas, which launched earlier this year and is 1,198 feet long, 20 decks high, and weighs 250,800 gross tons. That makes Utopia 10 feet less in height, two decks shorter, and 13,940 gross-tons lighter.

At 236,860 gross registered tons and 1,188 feet long, Utopia of the Seas is slightly larger than Wonder of the Seas, the newest Oasis Class ship at sea that launched in 2022. 

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class debuted in 2009 with the introduction of Oasis of the Seas. Since then, the class has grown to include six ships, including Utopia of the Seas. 

More than two years of construction took place, with construction of the ship beginning in March 2022, and sea trials taking place in May 2024.

The cruise ship is not scheduled to leave Saint-Nazaire until June 23, 2024.

Utopia of the Seas will be based year-round at Port Canaveral beginning July 2024. 

A new market for a new ship

Utopia will be the first new Royal Caribbean ship to enter service with short cruises. Typically, new ships begin with at least 7-night cruises because it tends to be a more lucrative market.

Royal Caribbean's plan is to start with 3- and 4-night sailings designed to attract first-time cruisers who are hesitant to go on a longer sailing as their first cruise.

The idea is offer the very best new cruise ship in the short cruise market to give new cruisers an obvious choice of which ship is best for them to try. Shorter cruises allow passengers to get a taste of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer without committing to a weeklong cruise. 

Combined with a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean thinks it will cement them as a first-time cruiser's dream choice.

Once they fall in love with cruises, Royal Caribbean pushes them to try Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas, which offer 7-night cruises.

What's new and different on Utopia of the Seas

Despite being the sixth in the Oasis Class, you'll find tweaks, additions, and new offerings on Utopia of the Seas.

Utopia will boast five pools, three water slides, 21 dining venues, 23 bars, two casinos, eight hot tubs, and will be the only Oasis-class ship to include two Solarium suites.

The ship will have a brand-new Caribbean-themed bar, Pesky Parrot, in the Royal Promenade. That compliments the expansive Lime & Coconut bar on the pool deck.

Perhaps the most anticipated new feature on Utopia of the Seas is the a new immersive dining experience, Royal Railway - Utopia Station.

You'll feel like you've boarded a classic train car that can transport you to different places around the world and in different eras.

At launch, Royal Railway will offer a trip to the Old West, but more ideas will follow. The restaurant will cost extra, and pricing is not yet known.

Speaking of the pool deck, there will be a new food truck concept added for guests. It will serve up, "handheld favorites"

After enjoying a tropical cocktail, passengers can make their way to one of the many dining options onboard, whether it's Royal Railway - Utopia Station, the classic Main Dining Room, the two-story Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, or casual Windjammer Marketplace. 

There will also be a zipline, laser tag, escape room, and rock wall to climb.

Inaugural sailing is next month

The first sailing of Utopia of the Seas will take place on July 19, 2024, offering a 3-night sailing to The Bahamas.

All of Utopia's sailings include visits to its private island, CocoCay.

Another Oasis Class ship to come

Utopia of the Seas is not the end of the Oasis Class.

Royal Caribbean placed an order for a seventh ship from Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard that is set to launch in 2028. 

Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis Class ship will have the longest dry slide at sea. 

First launched on Harmony of the Seas in 2016, the 10-deck high Ultimate Abyss quickly became a guest favorite. Passengers make their way to the aft of the ship on Deck 16, where they navigate twists and turns before ending up on the Boardwalk on Deck 6. 

MSC Cruises' World Europa stole the title for the longest dry slide at sea with the 250-foot Venom Drop. Royal Caribbean didn't take this too kindly, so they upped their game to introduce an even more thrilling attraction on their newest ship.

Measuring 259 feet long, Utopia of the Seas' Ultimate Abyss will be 43 feet longer than those on previous ships. Plus, it will be about 10 times longer than a London double-decker bus. 

The two slides were manufactured in Germany and are composed of 41 sections. Rather than maneuver and place a fully completed slide on the ship, sections were assembled and added individually. 

Inside, guests will find 300 illuminating LED lights and a brand-new feature, the zoom booster rollers, giving riders a "surprise" exit. 

Utopia of the Seas' Ultimate Abyss will have transparent racing windows, too, adding an extra layer of excitement while they fly down the slide in about nineteen seconds. 

The signature anglerfish was manufactured in France and stands 22 feet tall with 36 teeth that greet riders before they descend into the depths of the "abyss." 

Read more: "There will be nothing better on planet Earth": First look at Royal Caribbean's new weekend party cruise ship

The Ultimate Abyss dry slide can be found on all Oasis Class ships, except for one

The free-to-ride dry slide is an Oasis Class exclusive. First launched on Harmony of the Seas, it was later added to the namesake ship of the class. Allure of the Seas, however, never received the thrilling addition due to her canceled Royal Amplification. 

Currently, Allure is sailing out of Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida on 3- and 4-night sailings to The Bahamas, including Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay. In July, her homeport will move to Miami, where she'll remain through February 2025. 

During Royal Caribbean Group's fourth-quarter earnings call, President and CEO Jason Liberty revealed that the second Oasis Class ship is set to undergo a major refurbishment. When the vessel returns to service in April 2025, she'll be based in Europe, offering weeklong sailings around the Mediterranean. 

Though no details have been revealed as to what guests can expect, some have speculated that an Ultimate Abyss will finally be added. 

The enchantments to the Ultimate Abyss aren't the only features unique to Utopia of the Seas

Utopia Station - Royal Railway is a brand-new specialty dining restaurant exclusive to Utopia of the Seas. The immersive dining experience will transport travelers through the Old West and Far East while onboard a cruise ship! 

In addition to a theatrical show complete with seat vibrations and special effects, Utopia Station offers a menu inspired by the time and region. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean's immersive train car restaurant brings the Old West and Far East to its next new cruise ship

Royal Caribbean is thinking into the future, too. Rather than utilize the space just for meals, they hope to roll out "short form" stories, such as a wine tasting while flying through Napa Valley or a whiskey tasting in the Tennessee mountains. 

The Pesky Parrot Bar will replace the Bionic Bar in the Royal Promenade, fitting as the ship is slated to make short tropical getaways! The Caribbean-themed bar will serve fruity cocktails made with rum, tequila, and gin and is sure to be a hit thanks to its central location. 

Up on the pool deck, it will be hard to ignore Lime & Coconut, Royal Caribbean's resort-style pool bar, which will have three locations onboard. 

"Lime & Coconut is really going to open up the pool deck, and guests are going to be able to use the whole pool deck for their pool parties and their activations at night," said Julie Ansorge, Product Owner, Product Development for Royal Caribbean International.

Whether you're a devout Royal Caribbean fan or new to cruising, Utopia of the Seas was built to offer the best of the brand. 

With only 3 or 4 days onboard, the goal is to get guests excited about cruising, so they'll want to explore other ships within the fleet, from the world's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, to smaller vessels that focus on offering port-intensive itineraries. 

Read more: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Utopia of the Seas's inaugural voyage is scheduled to depart from Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida on July 19

Originally, the first sailing was to commence on July 22; however, construction moved quicker than anticipated. Now, the 3-night maiden sailing will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas earlier than expected. 

Inaugural cruises are important milestones in the life of a cruise ship, as they signal that the vessel is ready for regular service with paying guests. 

They come after a series of shakedown voyages. These allow crew members to familiarize themselves with their day-to-day operations and ensure everything is running smoothly before officially welcoming customers onboard.