Royal Caribbean Blog

It's going to be even easier to hop on a short cruise, as Royal Caribbean is ready to expand its market reach with these types of cruises.

Royal Caribbean has posted its new 2026-2027 deployments for the Short Caribbean, and there are a lot of cruise ships sailing cruises less than a week.

Short cruises have the advantage of being easier to work into long weekends or simply use up less days off from work.

We spotted eight ships added to the calendar to offer cruises between November 2026 and April 2027, and each has short cruise options.

Here's a breakdown of what's been added and what you can expect with a short cruise.

More ships, less nights

Across five homeports in Florida and Texas, there's a few different options if you're looking to add a getaway cruise.

Beginning in Port Canaveral, you'll find three ships offering short cruises here.  

Utopia of the Seas broke ground when she became the first Royal Caribbean ship to ever enter service with just short sailings. 

Utopia will continue that by offering 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas.

Fellow Oasis Class ship Harmony of the Seas moves back to Port Canaveral, and will sail 4- and 5-night cruises.

Harmony's 5-night cruises combine a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay with Cozumel, Mexico. The 4-night cruises will visit Nassau, Bahamas and CocoCay.

That combination of going to either Cozumel or Nassau is no coincidence, as those are two ports where Royal Caribbean will have new beach clubs open to book.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is set to open December 2025, and Royal Beach Club Cozumel will open in "late 2026 on select Western Caribbean vacations."

There's also one 2-night sailing on Harmony.

Explorer of the Seas will also sail from Port Canaveral, and offer 4- and 5-night cruises.

Explorer's 4-night sailings will remain in The Bahamas, while its 5-night voyages offer different options that can go to the Dominican Republic, Labadee, or Cozumel.

Moving over to Fort Lauderdale, there are new entries to the short game market.

Oasis of the Seas is the latest mega ship to start offering shorter cruises.

Similar to Utopia, Oasis will offer 3- and 4-night cruises out of Port Everglades to The Bahamas, including Royal Caribbean's private island.

With Oasis of the Seas sailing short cruises, that sets Royal Caribbean up with an Oasis Class ship in each of the major 3 ports on Florida's east coast to have this option.

It's clearly a move to dominate the short cruise market by outflanking the competition with the very best ships. 

The best budget option for a short cruise might be with Vision of the Seas.

Vision will offer 3- and 4-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale. The difference is Vision will also visit Bimini, Bahamas or Grand Bahama Island.

Grandeur will spend the summer in Fort Lauderdale with 3- and 4-night vacations to destinations across The Bahamas, including Perfect Day at CocoCay, as well as Key West in Florida. 

In Miami, you'll find two ships with short cruises from this capital of cruising.

Wonder of the Seas remains in Miami to sail short cruises.

Later in 2025, Wonder will begin the shift from 7-night cruises to short sailings, and Wonder will remain doing that into at least early 2027.

Wonder's itineraries match Utopia and Oasis, with visits to CocoCay or Nassau.

In addition, Freedom of the Seas will depart Miami on 4- and 5-night cruises.

Freedom's destinations include Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Labadee, Cozumel, Dominican Republic, and The Bahamas.

In Galveston, there's a familiar face returning to this port.

Liberty of the Seas is going back to Texas, and will sail 4- and 5-night cruises.

Both itineraries visit Cozumel, while the extra night gets you a visit to Costa Maya.

Mariner of the Seas has 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean sailings to Costa Maya and Cozumel.

Tampa has one ship sailing short cruises, with Rhapsody of the Seas from that port with new 4- and 5-night adventures.

Why are more ships sailing short cruises?

With Harmony and Oasis of the Seas moving to the short cruise market, it's clear Royal Caribbean sees a market need.

Ever since they announced Utopia of the Seas would enter service with short cruises, it's flipped the industry script on its head.

By offering short cruises on really impressive ships with lots to do, Royal Caribbean is hoping to entice the vast pool of people that have never cruised to try a cruise.

The new to cruise market is single handedly the lowest hanging fruit of potential new customers, and it's who Royal Caribbean wants to target to grow their business.

Weekend cruises in particular are very attractive to new cruisers because it's just a few days on the ship, lower cost than a week (with less PTO time needed), and most importantly, is less daunting as a way to try a cruise vacation.

The coup de grâce for this plan is by late 2026, Royal Caribbean should have two beach clubs open in Nassau and Cozumel.

These beach clubs are a brand new endeavor, which are paid excursions available only to Royal Caribbean customers.

Each will be an all-inclusive private enclave, where Royal Caribbean guests can book a spot and enjoy a day splashing in the pool or beach at a place that adheres to the same standards of a Royal Caribbean ship. 

More deployments coming soon

There are still more cruises to be announced in 2026-2027.

Seasonal Caribbean cruises will come out sometime next week, which represent primarily ships that move back to North America after spending the summer somewhere else.

Then we'll get China cruises during the week of March 10, 2025, followed by Singapore the week after that.

The final deployment will be Australia during the week of June 2, 2025.

Massive Royal Caribbean ships have been unable to visit San Juan, Puerto Rico, for months due to ongoing improvements to the pier infrastructure. Most recently, more sailings aboard Icon of the Seas have replaced their visits to San Juan with other Caribbean ports. 

The new string of changes affects cruises through July 2025. Guests booked on the May 3, June 7, June 21, and July 19 sailings received an email indicating they're no longer scheduled to call at San Juan. 

"Before your vacation begins, we wanted to inform you about some changes to our itinerary. Due to ongoing improvements to the pier infrastructure in San Juan, the port operators have advised us that the port will not be ready in time for our visit," the email begins. 

Three out of four of the voyages will now call at Ponce, Puerto Rico, while the July 19 voyage is skipping Puerto Rico entirely and heading to Phillipsburg, St. Maarten. 

The email continues, "We'll now enjoy a visit to Philipsburg, St. Maarten on Day 4. We'll still visit Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, now on Day 5 instead of Day 4. Thank you for your understanding - it's exciting to share this new destination with you."

Instead of nixing Puerto Rico from the itinerary completely, the May 3, June 7, and June 21 voyages will visit Ponce instead of San Juan. 

"Ponce has a captivating history as Puerto Rico's second-largest city is full of laid-back vibes and nostalgic charm. Enjoy a stroll through Plaza de las Delicias or unwind like a true Ponceño along La Guancha boardwalk," reads the email sent to booked passengers. 

"Want to dine like a local? Set your sights on cocina criolla, a blend of Spanish, Taino, American and African flavors - be sure to try Puerto Rico's national dish, mofongo (fried [plantains] mashed with garlic and olive oil). Finish the day with a scoop of hand-churned, tropical-flavored, ice cream at King's Cream, open since 1964. Whatever you choose to do on your adventure, you're sure to have a memorable time."

Guests with pre-paid shore excursions in San Juan will receive an automatic refund to their original form of payment. No other compensation is being provided. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship: Review, Photos

Symphony of the Seas changes

Passengers aboard Symphony of the Seas' April 6, 2025, cruise were also notified that they'll be skipping San Juan. 

"We’ll still visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, as originally planned. You’ll now get to explore the beautiful, Labadee, Haiti and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. [And] We’re dialing up the fun by adding an extra port to your itinerary! We’ll now visit Nassau, Bahamas on Day 3 of our sailing," reads the email. 

The original 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise was scheduled to call at Perfect Day at CocoCay, San Juan, and St. Maarten, respectively. This means that other than CocoCay, the entire itinerary has been updated. 

Ongoing issues docking in San Juan

Oasis and Icon Class ships have not visited San Juan since November 2024 because of ongoing construction with Pier 3-West. 

The issue hasn't impacted all ships, as San Juan has more than one pier for cruises. For example, Adventure of the Seas, an older Royal Caribbean ship measuring 137,276 gross registered tons (GRT), successfully docked in San Juan on Tuesday, February 24, 2025. 

In comparison, Icon of the Seas comes in at 248,663 GRT. Because of her size, Icon—and other Oasis Class ships—can only dock at Pier 3-West. 

According to Cruise Mapper, Scarlet Lady, Sun Princess, Marella Discovery, and Viking Sea also arrived in San Juan on Tuesday, Feb. 25 without issue. 

Large cruise ships, such as Symphony of the Seas, have been diverted from San Juan to alternative ports, including Labadee, Haiti; Falmouth, Jamaica; and Nassau, leading to dismay from guests. 

"These are major downgrades of ports…both Falmouth and Nassau suck and I tried to avoid them when initially booking the cruise," wrote one disappointed passenger on Reddit.

In January, local media outlet El Vocero reported that the Coast Guard was making progress in its repair efforts and claimed the pier could be fixed by late January. This, however, did not come to fruition. 

The issue began in April 2024 when MSC Meraviglia collided with the pier and caused "catastrophic damage." San Juan Cruise Port recently filed a lawsuit against MSC, as well as its insurers, to recover some of the costs associated with the damages and repairs, as reported by The Street. 

MSC is being accused of negligence for operating MSC Meraviglia with excessive speed and failure to follow proper docking procedures, including not using the available tug assistance or successfully aligning the vessel with the mooring dolphin. 

A dolphin is a group of pilings that serve as a protective hardpoint along a dock and help secure a cruise ship to the pier. 

The ongoing repairs are out of Royal Caribbean's hands, and the work is managed by the Puerto Rican authorities and is subject to Coast Guard approval. 

While cruise ship casinos are a major draw for many passengers, the debate of allowing smoking in these venues has been a hot button topic.

While Royal Caribbean has not changed its policy at all, they have made an unexpected change on one of its cruise ships.

Freedom of the Seas went in for what was thought to be routine maintenance work at a dry dock in Spain, but returned with a brand new venue that could make a lot of would-be gamblers quite happy.

Confirming the news we were first to report, the Vintages wine bar on the Royal Promenade has been replaced by a non-smoking casino, providing a new alternative where non-smokers can gamble without any second-hand smoke issues.

Traditionally, cruise ship casinos are divided in half between smoking and non-smoking areas, but it's one large space where the smoke odor can easily travel between the two.

With Freedom of the Seas back in service, we've gotten our first look at this new venue.

The entrance to the casino is an open space, with tables inside and outside the venue.

Keeping tables nearby is likely an option for passengers to have when enjoying time on the Royal Promenade. Often these tables are used for a place to have a quick bite or drink, or sit and enjoy watching what's happening nearby.

When Vintages was still there, these tables were often used by guests that weren't ordering anything at Vintages.

The new casino is split into two sides, with a casino bar in the middle.

You'll find a variety of slot machines to play in this new non-smoking casino.  While the footprint is smaller than the main casino, there's a good variation of machines to play.

Having a bar in this non-smoking casino is a feature not found on the Oasis Class ships.

While the non-smoking venues on Oasis Class ships have waiter service to get drinks, being able to quickly get a drink at the bar is far more convenient.

Plus, adding a bar to this casino reduces the workload on the casino bar in the primary casino.

We also spotted numerous televisions throughout the casino, including at the bar.  

Since sport watching is so popular, there's now additional viewing opportunities when a game is on.

There's also a few table games in the casino, such as roulette.

The idea to replace a somewhat less popular venue with a casino was first introduced on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

The genesis of the concept began on Wonder of the Seas, which was originally destined for the Chinese cruise market.  In Asia, there's a need for more gambling venues so the original plan was to have a casino in lieu of Jazz on 4.

When plans changed and Wonder was re-routed to North America, Royal Caribbean decided to keep the idea.

Soon thereafter, all the Jazz on 4 venues were replaced by non-smoking casinos as a way to offer more passengers an opportunity to gamble.

This appears to be the same idea with Freedom, but this is the first time a non-Oasis Class ship received such a change.

There's been no official statement by Royal Caribbean or any official as to why they decided to make the change, but it's likely it has much to do with maximizing onboard revenue as it does addressing a need passengers have been asking for.

While Vintages was the only wine bar on the ship, the supply of wine should be unaffected to any passenger that wants it, since the bulk of the wine was always stored behind-the-scenes.

Could more ships be getting a non-smoking casino?

With this change to Freedom of the Seas, the next question becomes will other ships receive a similar change.

Royal Caribbean hasn't released any sort of update to indicate if it would. They didn't make any announcement with the Oasis Class either, but then systematically went through and made the change on each ship.

It's entirely possible other Freedom or Voyager Class ships would see their Vintages replaced with a casino, as the venue is nearly identical to Freedom's. 

A few ships already had their Vintages replaced with something else.  

Mariner and Navigator of the Seas have the Bamboo Room instead of Vintages, which is a tiki bar.  Adventure of the Seas has Izumi Japanese Restaurant in its place.

Cruise ships go through a lot of food in order to feed a small city worth of people each week, and this leaves the potential for massive quantities of food waste. 

Every ship has multiple restaurants, from buffets to elegant sit down restaurants, and not all the food gets eaten. Once food is put out at a buffet or served, it can't go back into the kitchen, so it's either eaten or thrown away.

Food waste isn't just a cruise problem, it's something affecting every restaurant, bakery, supermarket, and theme park. 

Thankfully, Royal Caribbean's commitment to responsible management of the food it sources and uses onboard has a built-in plan for minimizing the waste of perishables.

Over the last couple of years, the cruise line has embarked on a new mission of minimizing how much food ends up in the trash.

Royal Caribbean's commitment goes beyond the buffet

In 2021, Royal Caribbean set out to truly reduce food waste across all of its ships with a new program that went beyond just one restaurant.

The parent company, Royal Caribbean Group, set a goal of reducing food waste across the fleet by 50% by 2025. As of early 2024, Royal Caribbean says it's already reduced food waste by about 33% across its fleet, saving tens of millions of dollars a year and literally tons of food.

"Reducing food waste is the single easiest and most impactful thing every one of us can do make a positive impact to the planet," is what Linken D'Souza, Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President, Global Food & Beverage, said of this program that he calls "Win on Waste".

There are five main focuses on how they plan to achieve that, and all of them are already in place as they work towards reaching their initial goal:

• Developing a proprietary platform to monitor food supply and accurately estimate how much food should be produced, prepped and ordered on a given day.
• Using artificial intelligence (AI) to adjust food production in real time.
• Introducing a dedicated onboard food waste role to monitor and train crew members.
• Tracking guest demand for specific menu items and adjusting menu preparation and ordering accordingly.
• Introducing a food waste awareness campaign in the crew dining areas fleet wide.

Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) allows chefs to better estimate how much food should be produced, prepped, thawed, and ordered, on a given day, at any given time.

They do this by entering the demographics of passengers onboard, where the ship is sailing, and even the weather to come up with the right amount of food and type of cuisine that will fit passengers on that sailing.

Data dashboards are reviewed by ship and corporate leaders to inform adjustments and track initiative progress. 

The purpose AI serves is to prevent generation of the food waste in the first place.

Some of the changes are less technical, but make logistical sense, such as food procurement.

A ship is supplied with all sorts of food, but it needs to be ready for every day of the sailing.  Royal Caribbean orders bananas at various stags of ripeness and held separately to ensure perfectly ripe bananas are available throughout each sailing.

At the buffet, there's been changes to how much food is prepared and how it's served to guests.

While there's still the traditional trays of food, many hot items are prepared using small batches and "À la Minute" cooking methods. Plus, cooking or carving stations ensure proper portion sizes and preserve quality, while engaging guests.

You'll also see less perishable food displays and decorations at buffets.

When there is food waste, frequently wasted items are noted to inform future adjustments. Waste datasets are reviewed daily by ship Food & Beverage leaders.

Reducing food waste with AI technology on the biggest cruise ship in the world

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world, and can accommodate up to 10,000 people that all have to have thousands of meals prepared every day.

When Icon departs Miami, it has more than 130,000 pounds of food onboard so that all of the more than 40 restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues are fully stocked.

To not only ensure they have enough food but also make sure as little as possible is wasted, Royal Caribbean has equipped this ship with a new AI system.

The new AI system will be able to better predict exactly how much food, down to individual ingredients a vessel will need for a specific cruise.

By leveraging AI, Royal Caribbean can tell their chefs and crew onboard how much meat, vegetables, and other food they'll need to match the needs of passengers on that specific sailing.

When Icon of the Seas first started sailing, the AI system was able to ensure the ship was utilizing 86% of its food onboard.

A fun fact about the food waste on Icon of the Seas is that the ship's waterpark is actually partially powered by it.

The power for the water slides here is generated partly by food waste, trashed cardboard and bio waste. They get converted into pellets that, when heated, give off steam that generates power.

The Instagram-famous Captain Kate McCue is bidding a fond farewell to Celebrity Cruises. 

Captain Kate shared the news on her Instagram on Monday, February 24. 

"Today, I saw farewell to Celebrity," she begins, "I've spent the last 22 years on 11 ships in the Royal Caribbean Group, from 2nd Officer to Captain. I have seen some of the most beautiful places, met inspiring and wonderful people, and had opportunities to live my 12-year-old dream out loud!"

In 2003, Captain Kate began working for Royal Caribbean Group as 2nd Officer onboard Nordic Empress. Then, she became a 1st Officer on Brilliance, Mariner, and Independence of the Seas, according to her LinkedIn. 

However, she rose to prominence when she became the Captain of the Celebrity Summit at 37 years old in 2015. It was the first time an American woman had been named Captain of a mega cruise ship, and she has been with Celebrity Cruises ever since. 

Throughout her time as a Captain, she gained notoriety online. As of February 2025, she has over 4.6 million combined followers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, where she gives glimpses into the daily life of a cruise ship Captain. 

For example, she gave behind-the-scenes footage of the Celebrity Beyond's development during the ship's construction, as well as filmed a video showing what her living quarters looked like. Spoiler alert: it wasn't an average cruise ship cabin! 

She also used her platform to help cruisers understand the not-so-fun parts of being a Captain, such as making the disappointing decision to cancel ports of call due to weather.  

Captain Kate was also famous for her sphynx cat who lived with her onboard while at sea. Unfortunately, the 8-year-old Bug Naked passed away from complications following a routine dental surgery the day after Christmas. 

Celebrity Cruises' social media team shared a heartfelt comment on Captain Kate's post: "The journey we have shared together has been absolutely amazing. You brought passion and heart to everything you did, inspiring so many along the way, and leaving a lasting mark on our industry. We wish you fair winds and following seas, always. 💙 ⚓️"

Other users took to the comments to wish Captain Kate the best in her future endeavors. 

"Captain you’re gonna be so missed! You’re such an inspiration and I hope our paths will cross again❤️ Wishing you all the best!!" wrote bettinald. 

meredithreese added, "@captainkatemccue you are just an absolute gem of a human. So grateful our souls crossed!! Wishing you blessings and amazing energy on your continued journeys!! 🩵🩵🩵"

"Captain, you are such an inspiration to us all and easily one of the most impressive humans we’ve ever met," said cruisewithjj. 

"We will all miss you but are also so grateful for the times we had sailing the seas together under your leadership, witty humor, and genuine kindness for us all. ❤️"

She's not retiring 

Per Captain Kate's Instagram post, she isn't ready for life on land. 

"You might be wondering why I am leaving," she continues, "Simply put, life has an incredible way of reminding us what's important and changing up priorities. I've recently had some big life changes, and this just happens to be one of those."

"Are my sailing days over? Absolutely not. I've got too much salt in my veins to leave the sea behind."

Though she doesn't disclose what her next steps are, she could be transitioning to a new company. 

Her deep love for the ocean suggests that, while her time with Celebrity Cruises has come to an end, her journey at sea is far from over. 

Captain Kate longed for life at sea from a young age

She dreamed of being a Cruise Director after her first cruise at 12 years old. Her father supported her aspirations but also encouraged her to dream bigger. 

After graduating from California State University's Maritime Academy with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, she moved to Hawaii and worked as a general deckhand on a catamaran. She finally got a job onboard a cruise ship with Disney Cruise Line in 2002 aboard the Disney Magic. 

In 2003, she was offered a job for Royal Caribbean, a company she stayed with until 2015. She worked as a 2nd Officer, traveling the world and visiting Asia, Alaska, Australia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. 

Read more: Take a look inside a cruise ship captain's living quarters

While working with Royal Caribbean, she obtained her Chief Mate and Master's License in 2009 from the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, which gave her the necessary qualifications to take command of a vessel. 

She then became a Chief Officer for Royal Caribbean, working aboard ships like Mariner of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. 

A few years later, she was asked to apply to Celebrity Cruises, a sister brand to Royal Caribbean owned by Royal Caribbean Group, by then-President Lisa Lutoff-Perlo and accepted the position of cruise ship Captain in 2015. 

She started on Celebrity Summit, one of the line's smallest ships that debuted in 2001, and remained there until 2018 when she became the commanding officer aboard the Celebrity Equinox. 

Captain Kate moved to Celebrity Edge in 2019, where she became the first female Captain to command one of the line’s newest and most innovative ships. 

She ended her time with Celebrity Cruises as the Captain of Celebrity Beyond, a mega-ship measuring 140,600 gross registered tons and 1,073 feet long. 

Last fall, I cruised with my family on Celebrity Solstice for a port-intensive repositioning cruise from Sydney to Singapore. The 15-night cruise included fabulous ports of call throughout Australia and Indonesia.

Although I had sailed with Celebrity Cruises before, I had never considered splurging on the cruise line’s more all-inclusive fare, known as the All Included package pricing. Instead, I preferred to book only the cruise fare to save money. As a budget cruiser, spending thousands of extra dollars for drinks and internet access didn’t seem worthwhile.

Not to mention, I already receive daily free cocktails with my Captain’s Club loyalty status. Thanks to Royal Caribbean’s status matching program, Diamond Plus members automatically receive Elite Plus loyalty with Celebrity Cruises.

These perks had always felt more than sufficient for me, including Celebrity’s nightly happy hour with complimentary drinks. Although this is more restrictive than Royal Caribbean’s drink vouchers — which can be used at most bars throughout the day — I never felt the need to purchase a drink package. I would have a hard time drinking consistently on a 15-night cruise to justify this cost, anyway!

However, the opportunity presented itself for me to try Celebrity’s All Included package when booking this cruise. I couldn’t believe how much money I saved - and I already plan to book the package again.

What is Celebrity’s All Included pricing?

All Included is a pricing package offered by Celebrity Cruises that bundles cruise fares with the Classic Beverage Package and Basic Wi-Fi Package. Celebrity states these are the most popular amenities for cruise guests, and the All Included pricing allows cruisers to save money by bundling the two together.

According to the cruise line, the All Included pricing package can save guests anywhere from $200 to $800 per person compared to onboard prices for the same amenities. All guests in the stateroom receive the amenities and All Included is available for most stateroom categories. In this way, you can choose a lower-tier stateroom, such as an inside cabin, and still purchase the All Included pricing package.

Celebrity’s Basic Drink includes cocktails, beers, wines, and classic liquors up to $10 each. This also includes specialty coffee, juice, and bottled water. However, for sailings that depart from Australia, drinks up to $12 are included.

While you can certainly save money with this bundled pricing, it’s important to determine which add-ons you plan to purchase regardless. If you are someone who always purchases the drink package and Wi-Fi access, it might be worthwhile to price out the All Included package. If you only need internet access, paying extra for a drink package you don’t use or value could be a waste of money.

I paid $2,069 for an interior stateroom with the All Included pricing package

Although I had used a travel agent for work-related trips, I had never booked a personal cruise through one. While researching prices for the 15-night sailing on Celebrity’s website, I decided to check with my travel agent, Christina from MEI Travel, to see if she could offer a better rate.

Directly on Celebrity’s website, the cruise was listed at $2,300 per person for a non-refundable interior cabin. This price only included the basic cruise fare without any perks or prepaid gratuities. Much to my surprise, Christina had access to group rates for this sailing with a few cabins available - and the savings were substantial!

She provided a quote of $2,069 per person for a refundable interior cabin with the All Included pricing. I was shocked! Even better, this group rate included gratuities (the agency rates were locked in prior to the cruise line’s package changes). Had we booked the same perks directly online with Celebrity Cruises, we would have paid thousands of dollars more.

Read more: My parents paid more for an obstructed balcony, but our cheaper inside cabin was the better choice

Of course, this was a no-brainer decision and we made a deposit on an interior cabin. The only downside of the cabin was its location in the ship’s aft; however, the savings were enough to justify settling on a less desirable location.

The All Included pricing was such a fantastic deal that my parents canceled their prior reservation to book with the travel agent. They paid $800 more to cruise in an obstructed balcony stateroom. It’s not common these days to pay less and receive more, so we were giddy!

I decided to upgrade my Wi-Fi package - and it was cheaper than I expected

Unlike some cruise lines, Celebrity Cruises does not have a set price for its internet package. Prices vary, but Celebrity’s website shows Premium Wi-Fi is $23.99 per day while Basic Wi-Fi is $20.00 per day.

For our 15-night cruise, I was planning to spend $360 on premium internet access to ensure I had proper connectivity. Because I work remotely while traveling, I rely on strong connectivity to ensure I can finish my work when needed.

The All Included pricing comes with the standard Internet Package. But, you can choose to upgrade your drink and internet package, which is what I decided to do for my Wi-Fi access. I was able to upgrade from Basic Wi-Fi to Premium Wi-Fi for only $59.85, which provided unlimited access for the 15-night sailing. This included a discount with my Elite Plus status, but I needed to call Celebrity Cruises to have that applied.

This was well worth the expense! While aboard our cruise, my internet connectivity was consistently stronger than my sister’s connection on the Basic Wi-Fi package. I was able to stream videos and video conferences without issue. On the other hand, my sister’s devices were always buffering; however, she didn’t mind and appreciated the standard access included in her cruise fare.

I recommend upgrading your internet access to the Premium Wi-Fi package if you need to do any sort of video conferencing or streaming during your cruise. My sister had an important Zoom call during our cruise and she needed to borrow my premium internet to ensure the connectivity was strong enough. If you only need to check emails or browse social media, the basic package will suffice. Those needing faster speeds would benefit from the small uncharge for better connectivity.

Having the drink package enhanced our onboard experience, especially on a longer itinerary

With the All Included pricing, our entire family enjoyed access to the standard beverage package—a first for all of us! We were curious to see what kind of drinks would be included in our package. Because we actually saved money booking the All Included fare with our travel agent, it almost felt like we got the drink package for free.

To start, the onboard experience immediately felt more luxurious. We started our vacation with mojitos on the pool deck during sailaway — perhaps one of the most stunning embarkations I’ve ever experienced.

Sipping our cocktails while cruising by the iconic Sydney Opera House was an unforgettable moment. Even better, I was thrilled to learn that my go-to drink choice was included in the package.

Throughout the cruise, I enjoyed not having to worry about paying for drinks individually or waiting until the Captain’s Club nightly happy hour with its restricted cocktail menu. This made the vacation feel more relaxing and all-inclusive.

Because our itinerary was 15 nights, we had plenty of time onboard to take advantage of the drink package. As our ship sailed closer to the equator and the weather was warmer, we savored refreshing drinks on the pool deck to beat the heat.

We also enjoyed drinks during our nightly dinner in the dining room or specialty dining restaurant. I was excited to learn that specialty coffees were included in the drink package; as such, I indulged in my morning latte before starting the day.

Trying new cocktails without pressure was another perk of the drink package during our cruise. I loved the limoncello spritz in Tuscan Grille - and it has since become one of my go-to drinks. My mom also took advantage of her drink package with the sommelier in the dining room to try different wines and ask about his expertise.

I was worried the standard drink package would be restrictive, but this wasn’t the case at all

Although I had never booked Celebrity’s drink package before, I have tried drink packages with Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line. While Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line allow nearly unlimited menu choices with their drink packages, Norwegian Cruise Line had more restrictions on what could be ordered with its standard package.

With this in mind, I was curious to try Celebrity’s drink package for the first time to see whether it would be restrictive or not.

Almost every drink that we ordered was included with the classic drink package, such as mojitos, mudslides, spritzes, martinis, frozen coladas, and Bahama Mamas. It seemed like every drink we ordered was included in our basic package — we started to wonder why anyone would need to upgrade to the premium package when so much was included!

However, it’s important to mention the pricing discrepancy during our sailing. Our cruise departed from Sydney, Australia, and according to the cruise line’s website, this means classic drink packages include drinks up to $12 instead of $10.

There was mass confusion during the first couple of days of our cruise, as the crew members were told that $10 was the drink threshold. Some passengers took this issue to Guest Services and the threshold was increased to $12, per the cruise line’s policy. As such, our cruise might have included more drinks than what is typically allowed and my experience might be skewed because of this.

Another perk of the basic drink package was access to unlimited bottled water

When our sailing departed from Sydney, Australia, the fall weather was crisp and cool. But, as we sailed further north towards the equator, the weather became scorching hot. We were drenched in sweat during our excursions while visiting the Great Barrier Reef, the Australian Outback, and Bali, Indonesia.

With our basic drink package, we were thrilled to learn that bottled water was included! This was a huge perk during our hot sailing. Each morning, we would each ask for one or two bottles of water to pack for our daily adventures.

We were especially happy to have access to this bottled water during our two days in Bali. Considering tap water isn’t typically safe to drink in Bali, we made sure to pack our bottled water from the ship. Not having to worry about water safety or purchasing bottled water was a huge perk of the drink package during our cruise!

Read more: I took my first cruise to Australia. Here are 13 lessons learned, including 4 mistakes I won't make again

However, I’m not sure I would have gotten my money’s worth if I had purchased the drink package separately as an add-on

It’s easy for me to say, “The drink package was absolutely worth it!” when the All Included pricing was actually lower than the cruise fare alone. Had I purchased the standard drink package separately, I don’t think it would have been worthwhile.

Celebrity Cruises charges $107.99 per person per day for the Classic Beverage Package (including gratuities). For a 15-night cruise, this would be $1,619! The cruise line does offer discounts and promotions for their drink package, but this cost is still substantial. In fact, this is almost the amount I paid for the entire cruise!

As a casual drinker who enjoys one or two drinks each day, along with some bottled water and specialty coffee, this cost would be hard to justify. The longer itineraries make it even more difficult to get your money’s worth when you have to drink frequently and consistently to break even. I also don’t enjoy the stress of knowing whether I drank enough to justify the cost of my drink package - vacation is meant to be relaxing, after all!

Even still, I would book the All Included package again if the price was right

For this cruise, the All Included package was an obvious choice. We were able to save money by booking the refundable cruise fare with these perks through our travel agent compared to booking on our own.

When I cruise, I always purchase an internet package and opt for refundable fares to maintain flexibility, which adds to the overall cost. Before this experience, I hadn’t seriously considered the All Included fare, but now I compare both options more closely to assess potential savings.

I’ve already booked another All Included cruise for later this year on Celebrity Millennium, as the price with perks through our travel agent was only slightly higher than the base fare offered directly by the cruise line.

If you’re a budget-conscious traveler, I highly recommend checking with a travel agent about group rates that include perks. You might be surprised at the savings, just like I was!

It pains me when I see cruise passengers making easily avoidable mistakes, but I saw many again when I was on my Utopia of the Seas cruise last week.

I just sailed on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas for a 3-night cruise, and it was a great escape for a few days to some of the best weather I've ever had on a cruise.

This particular ships is so adept at appealing to people that have never been on a cruise ship before, and that's great for the cruise line's bottom line to grow their customer base.

Unfortunately, first time cruisers are among the most likely to commit a cruise ship faux pas, and it was evident on this sailing too.

Before you go on Utopia, make sure you aren't making any of these mistakes.

Not specifying liquors

It's so easy to walk up to a bar and ask for a drink by name, but you ought to do one other thing.

When you order just the drink name, a majority of the time you're going to get well liquor, which is the cheapest brand and those brands tend to have the worst "bite" to them.

Name brand liquors tend to be smoother, or they have a particular flavor that you might prefer.

It's less an issue with a cocktail Royal Caribbean has created for a specific bar, like the PB&J Old Fashioned at the Mason Jar, or the Goalpost Margarita at Playmakers.

What I'm talking about is when you simply ask for a Bloody Mary, Pina Colada, or Margarita.

You should always specify the liquor you want.  If you have a drink package, it's included with the cost. Plus, it will taste better and perhaps be even more potent.

Waiting to go onto CocoCay later in the morning

Since Utopia of the Seas visits Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day of CocoCay every cruise, I thought I should include a CocoCay specific mistake too.

While I'm all for sleeping in on vacation, you really ought to get up early and hit the beach or pool before 10am.

Certain areas of the island will have chairs get taken up quite quickly, especially since there's almost always two ships in port.

Oasis Lagoon in particular seems to run out of chairs first, and Chill Island will only have chairs at the very far end left if you wait too late.

If you bought admission to the Coco Beach Club or Hideaway Beach, there are couches by the pool that are on a first-come, first-served basis.  Those pretty much get gobbled up in the first hour the ship is docked.

Personally, I don't want to have to search for a chair and umbrella. Or relegate us to sharing just one or two chairs because that's all that's left.

Another added bonus of getting off the ship early is during the summer months when afternoon thunderstorms are common.

If you get to the island in the morning, that's usually when you'll find the best weather. It's coolest in the morning hours, and the greatest chance of precipitation is in the afternoon.

Paying fees for cash at table games

When I sat down to play Blackjack in the ship's casino, I saw at least two different people request cash to play from the dealer and they got hit with a 5% fee.

Royal Caribbean charges a fee for cash withdrawals in the casino, unless you're a Prime member or higher in the casino loyalty program.

However, anyone can avoid the fee by going to a slot machine and pulling cash from there.

For some reason, there's no fee when you use the banker feature on a slot machine to get cash. You can then immediately cash out, go to the cashier and exchange it for cash. At that point, you can go to the Blackjack table and try your luck, and you'll be up 5%!

Waiting to buy a drink package on the ship

I doubt people waiting to buy a Royal Caribbean beverage package on the cruise ship ever goes away, but plenty still do it.

If you sit at any bar on embarkation day, sooner or later someone asks the bartender to buy a drink package and they'll end up paying full price.

On Utopia of the Seas, it was $115 per person, per day to buy a drink package on the ship!

That same drink package could have been had for 30% less or more if they had pre-purchased before the cruise began.

If there's even a remote chance you'll want the drink package, always pre-pay to save money.

Ordering typical drinks instead of fun new cocktails

If there's one area Royal Caribbean doesn't get enough credit for, it's their cocktail menus.

I totally understand why pina coladas, margaritas, and daiquiris are so popular because they're essentially ubiquitous with a tropical vacation.

While it's not a mistake to order one, Royal Caribbean has spent a lot of time coming up with fun new cocktails that are way more interesting.

There are so many great choices available, and they all work with a beverage package.

Here are some ones to look out for:

• 1400 - 1400 Bar
• No Joke, Smoke & Coke - Mason Jar
• She's A Geisha - Izumi
• The Urban Garden Martini - 150 Central Park
• Toasted marshmallow old fashioned - Schooner Bar

There's plenty more, but keep an eye out for new ones to try. They might end up being your go-to favorite.

Overlooked Solarium Bistro

I'm guilty of this mistake too, but the best alternative restaurant you're not eating at on Utopia of the Seas (and other ships) is the Solarium Bistro.

Solarium Bistro is complimentary and open for all three meals. It's a combination of buffet and sit down restaurant, and it's probably way less crowded than the Windjammer.

I'd argue Solarium Bistro is the best choice for a more laid back breakfast, and it's usually a ghost town at dinner.

Plus, it has beautiful windows to see the ocean from.

And yes, kids are allowed in this restaurant even thought it's in the adults-only Solarium.

Trying to leave the ship without a SeaPass card

No matter which ship it is, it seems inevitable someone tries to disembark the ship on the last day without their SeaPass card.

Before you can leave the ship at the conclusion of a sailing, you need to scan your SeaPass with the ship's security one last time.  The purpose is to check you out of the ship.

This means you'll need to have your SeaPass with you as you leave.  Unfortunately, there are a few people who don't have it, and it stops the line dead in its tracks.

At this point, security needs to look them up in the system and manually check them out, but this takes some time and it slows down the disembarkation line.  On Royal Caribbean's older ships, this backs up the line and it inconveniences everyone.

Make sure you have everyone's SeaPass card with you when you leave your ship on that final morning.

Packing prohibited items leads to problems later

Something else related to the last day of the cruise is the table of prohibited items I saw for pickup.

Royal Caribbean bans a lot of things from being brought on a cruise ship because they are a danger, risk, or troublesome. 

By far the two most common things people bring on a cruise that are absolutely not allowed are clothing irons and steamers.

On the final morning, there was a table full of them.

But here's the other problem with packing something you're not supposed to have: it holds up your luggage delivery.

When the ship's security sees you packed a prohibited item, your suitcase is held back and you have to go down to security to retrieve your bag.

Make sure you read through all the things you cannot bring on a cruise before you start packing.

Happy Sunday, and I hope you had a great week. It was a busy week of Royal Caribbean fun, and I have a round-up of all of it in this hand-dandy blog post.

Royal Caribbean shared itineraries and details about its new Legend of the Seas cruise ship.

For the first time, Royal Caribbean is bringing its Icon Class to Europe. Bookings are now open to make reservations through April 2027.

The third Icon Class ship will set sail from Barcelona, Spain, in August 2026, launching with seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises. Then in November, the ship will move to Fort Lauderdale for winter cruises.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean is deeply discounting its drink packages because of an obscure holiday
• Pair of owls stowaway on transatlantic cruise for two weeks
• I booked a cabana at Coco Beach Club for $1400
• 4 snorkel secrets at Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Royal Caribbean cruisers are combining these two snacks to make one delicious dessert
• I tried out the $200 per person private beach club at CocoCay

New RCB Video: The Best and Worst Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships, Ranked

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 — The Best and Worst Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships, Ranked — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

We've just released the 556th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast. In it, Matt walks through everything announced about Legend of the Seas and what his plans are for trying the ship out.

You can subscribe to the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast via iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or RSS.

We analyzed price data and the cheapest prices for cruises were a lot earlier than we expected

A lot of people know they should book a cruise early, but when exactly do prices fluctuate?

Due to the dynamic nature of cruise prices, fares will go up and down, but as the cruise date approaches, prices tend to go up quickly.

We went through 13 different cruise ship price data to determine the best time to book your cruise to receive the cheapest price.

"None of em pay taxes!" Trump official calls out cruise ships for not paying taxes

A top U.S. official said the Trump Administration would seek to make cruise ships pay taxes.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested the federal government would order a crackdown on taxes paid by cruise operators.

"None of them pay taxes," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, adding that "this is going to end."

Utopia of the Seas connecting balcony cabin review

Matt went on a 3-night sailing aboard Utopia of the Seas in a balcony cabin and shared what it's like to stay in this room.

He paid $1,723.54 for a category 4D balcony room instead of a cheaper inside room.

While the room may not have been the cheapest deal ever, it was more comfortable than expected.

Is a short 3-night cruise worth it?

Royal Caribbean is shifting more of its big ships to offer 3-night cruises in order to attract new cruisers, but is it worth it?

They are certainly convenient, and offer people that have never cruised before the chance to try out a cruise vacation without committing to a week.

The downside to a short cruise can be a lack of itinerary variations, and a higher cost than you might think.

I've visited Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay dozens of times since the island was revamped, and I've been to the Coco Beach Club a few times.

On my most recent visit, I booked a cabana instead of just buying passes because of a lucrative Black Friday sale that cut the price down considerably compared to what it usually sells for.

I booked the Coco Beach Club Beach Cabana to use for the entire day our ship was docked at Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas.

The cost of one of these cabanas is usually priced over $3,000 for the day, as demand for cabanas has skyrocketed in recent years. But I was able to get it for just $1,448.99.

I picked the beach cabana instead of the overwater cabanas because they are cheaper and I assumed it might not be hot enough in February to spend time in the ocean.  The beach cabana accommodates up to 8 people, and includes passes for each person into the Coco Beach Club.

When my family and friends arrived at Coco Beach Club, check-in for the cabana was easy

Once you walk down the pier, Royal Caribbean offers trams around its island at no cost. This makes getting to the beach club much faster and easier.

The short two minute ride stops near the club's entrance, where you are greeted by the club staff at the entrance.

In order to gain access to the Coco Beach Club, you need a day pass.  Since a cabana rental includes admission, I mentioned we booked a cabana and they welcomed us with a cooling towel and complimentary welcome drink.

At this point a cabana attendant is assigned to you, and escorts you to the cabana.

My cabana was steps from the infinity pool, restaurant, and bathrooms

We were assigned cabana 23, which is the closest one to the restaurant and infinity pool.  The convenient location was fantastic, and I'll request this one every time in the future because of how easy it was to get back and forth.

One advantage of the Beach Cabanas over the over the Overwater Cabanas is how much less walking is involved when leaving the cabana.

Since we preferred the infinity pool over the ocean anyway, and the ocean temperatures were a bit too chilly for our comfort, being mere steps away was lovely.

The pool is heated, so it's the perfect alternative.

Plus, our cabana is the closest one to the main set of rest rooms.

Each cabana has many amenities

I was impressed how much seating this cabana included, beyond of course the array of wonderful things that come with a rental.

There was a large couch inside the cabana, along with two chairs facing the couch.  Then there were four loungers facing the ocean, along with two beach loungers outside the cabana.  

And there's even a hammock that you can use too.

We had four adults and four kids, and there was enough seating for everyone and so many of the choices were quite comfortable.

Cabana rentals include towels for your use, so there was a pile of them available and our cabana attendant would replenish them at any point.

There was also a cooler filled with complimentary bottled water we could use. There's also a mini-fridge full of beers, soft drinks and soft drinks that cost extra (unless you have a drink package).

In the middle of the cabana is a table that doubles as a safe where we could store our wallets, phones, and other valuables. There's more storage space in the closet, which is includes complimentary snorkels to use.

Our cabana attendant was superb

One of my favorite perks of any cabana rental is the attendant that brings you anything you may need.

The cabana attendant can bring more towels and water, as well as deliver food, snacks, and cocktails to the cabana.

After being escorted to the cabana, she explained how everything in the cabana works, patiently answered any questions we had, and offered to bring us anything else we needed.

The only complaint I had was cabana attendants require everyone wear a bracelet during your stay, which is impossible to remove until you get back to the ship and track down scissors. I'd prefer not to wear it until I left my cabana.

She stopped by our cabana periodically to check if we needed anything, but there was an intercom we could use if we needed her attention quicker.

I was able to have lunch delivered to our cabana

The Coco Beach Club food is legendary for how good it is, and it's so convenient having food brought when you have kids and they prefer to take a few bites and then go back to playing.

It was so nice having mozzarella sticks and other snacks delivered when we needed it, as well as having lunch brought to our cabana.

There's a table and chairs you, as well as the cabana table/safe where you can have lunch delivered as part of the service.

The lunch menu is the same as what they serve in the restaurant, which includes filet mignon, lobster, and more.

I spent about more time in the cabana than I expected

I brought my laptop with me off the ship and started off my day working from the comfort of the cabana, which is the best kind of office.

Even after I finished my work, it was nice to play music through the cabana's Bluetooth speaker and hang out with our friends and otherwise relax.

While visiting CocoCay in February meant the ocean water was too chilly for my preference, the benefit was it was quite comfortable to simply be outside. I enjoyed lounging in the chairs, and my wife spent most of the afternoon in the hammock reading her book.

I still prefer the Hideout Cabanas, but with kids this is a great option

My favorite cabanas on CocoCay remain the Hideout Cabanas that are inside the adults-only area because they have their own plunge pool to enjoy.

Since we travel with kids, getting into Hideaway Beach isn't an option.  Luckily, kids are welcome inside the Coco Beach Club.

Compared to the Overwater Cabanas, there's no denying how idyllic those look.  I know our staff loves them because it situates you right on the ocean with amazing views.

The advantage the Beach Cabana has is it's closer to all the facilities, and no less worry about someone going in the ocean accidentally.

Cabana life is wonderful, but I'd only book it again for the right price

The Beach Cabana rental was a great choice for our group as a way to enjoy not only the Coco Beach Club, but fun day together.

Admittedly, the price of this cabana is usually too much to justify. I wouldn't pay $3,000 or more for this cabana.  But with the right sale price, I think it's well worth it for families.  

Considering it can handle up to 8 people, you could easily invite friends and help split the cost.

The convenience of having food and drinks delivered while providing a base for the kids to come and go easily is lovely.  Plus, having the shade it provides is a welcome refuge.

The next time I get a push notification from the Royal Caribbean app of a new sale, I'll definitely check the price of a cabana to see if it's been discounted so we can come back again.

Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, is known for its crystal-clear waters, making it the perfect destination for beach and water activities. 

Among the most popular on the island is snorkeling. Whether you're a skilled snorkeler or trying it for the first time, CocoCay's calm waters are perfect for exploring the underwater world. 

As one of the most common activities, it's not unusual to find fellow cruisers posting advice online, so future guests can learn from their experiences. 

Reddit user greenbananas1200 did just that, sharing invaluable snorkeling tips to the r/royalcaribbean Reddit thread. 

They begin the post by saying, "We went to cococay yesterday and went snorkeling! I did a lot of research before to be prepared and wanted to share some advice we learned."

If you're planning to snorkel at Perfect Day at CocoCay, taking a few tips from seasoned snorkelers can help you make the most of your adventure, and greenbananas1200's post is filled with helpful advice!

Bring your own equipment 

Purchasing your own snorkel gear is more cost-effective in the long run. 

"The snorkel-at-your-leisure excursion is essentially just the equipment rental. We bought snorkel gear at home and brought it (only the mask because we couldn't fit the flippers in our carry-ons). It is worthwhile - I paid only $30 CAD for my set, while rentals were around $40 USD," says greenbananas1200. 

According to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner, the "CocoCay All-Day Snorkeling at Your Leisure" excursion costs $39.58 for an upcoming cruise on Icon of the Seas, with an onboard price of $53.90. 

As greenbananas1200 explained, the excursion isn't an actual tour. Rather, it's just rental equipment for the day. In other words, you won't be guided through the Bahamian waters by an expert! 

Though you could pay $40 for the snorkel gear, it's easy to find equipment on Amazon for less. Plus, you can use it throughout your cruise. 

So, for instance, if you're in CocoCay one day and Nassau the next, you can easily take a cab to a local beach and snorkel without needing to rent more gear or purchase an excursion. You can even store it in your garage for your next tropical getaway. 

ZEEPORTE had an affordable equipment set for just $38.99 that includes a snorkel mask, fins, silicon breathing tube with a dry snorkel top, and a mesh carry bag, making it easy to get your gear from your cruise ship cabin to the beach. 

It also comes in various colors, including lavender, dark blue, grey, red, and yellow. 

Please note that we have linked an Amazon item above, which contains an affiliate link. The affiliate link does not cost you anything extra, but Royal Caribbean Blog will make a small commission if you purchase the item through the link.

Wake up early

"We were in line to be the first ones off the ship. I would HIGHLY recommend [it]!" stated greenbananas1200, "There are some mixed reviews on the snorkelling at cococay so I was expecting to only see some tan-coloured fish."

However, because they started their day bright and early, they experienced snorkeling at its best. 

greenbananas1200 continues, "Instead we saw many interesting fish (including one with a long spike on its nose), a small stingray, a large ~5ft spotted eagle ray, a ~3ft fish/shark-looking thing. We saw way more in...cococay than the 2-stop snorkel excursion in Nassau that we paid $90 USD pp for."

CocoCay offers plenty of other activities to enjoy the island's beauty even if you aren't snorkeling, and getting off the ship early is one of the best ways to maximize your time ashore. 

For example, by mid-afternoon, many complimentary chairs and loungers on the beach will have been taken, and the island can feel a bit more crowded. By arriving early, you can snag your ideal spot and relax in peace. 

Read more: I went to CocoCay for the first time, and here's what I'd do differently

Claim a locker

While the ship is never far, you want to take certain essentials ashore, including medication, sunscreen, and flip-flops. However, you may not want to lug everything around all day. Enter CocoCay's complimentary lockers. 

"When you get on cococay, claim a locker," advises greenbananas1200, "They are free but first-come-first-served so get one first that you can use throughout the day to store your gear." 

The lockers are scattered throughout the island and won't cost you anything. To use a locker, you will set a pin that will allow you to open and close it as many times as you need throughout the day. They do fill up early, so don't wait to claim one! 

Snorkel at Chill Island

Perfect Day at CocoCay offers a variety of beaches, including the adults-only Hideaway Beach and the family-friendly South Beach. 

If you're unsure which one to choose, greenbananas1200 suggests heading to Chill Island: "We saw the cool larger animals under the floating platforms/rafts (there are 3-4 of them), so I would recommend looking near those. But be careful, it was actually really scary!"

Chill Island is easy to find. After disembarking the ship and walking onto the island, head straight until you see Captain Jack's. Then, take a left and continue over the bridge. 

Not only is Chill Island great for snorkeling but it's also conveniently located near the Chill Grill, so you won't have to venture far for lunch. It's also where you will find the CocoCay Island Market, perfect for stocking up on last-minute souvenirs.