Royal Caribbean Blog

When you can go on a cruise for cheap, it's difficult to find many faults, but there are some downsides to a low-cost sailing in an inside cabin.

Thanks to an amazing offer from Royal Caribbean's casino, I was able to go on a 5-night cruise to Mexico for just $200 in an inside cabin.

There's no doubt it was a fantastic value, but I missed having a view and easy access to the outdoors more than I expected.

I've been cruising for a couple of decades now, and I've stayed in plenty of inside cabins before. I'm not someone who tried it for the first time and had a kneejerk reaction to it, so I knew what the experience was like.

However, this time around, I found waking up in the morning to pitch black more jarring than in the past.

Because my inside cabin on deck had no windows, the room was pitch black when my alarm would go off in the morning. I felt like my brain didn't connect that it's morning and I kept thinking I was waking up in the middle of the night.

Likewise, if I woke up on my own, I had no idea if it was 2am or 7am.  It's my personal theory the secret to falling back asleep quickly if you wake up at night is not to open your eyes or check your phone, so a few times I probably woke up 10 minutes before my alarm went off and tried to go back to sleep, only to be awoken again by the alarm.

Had I been in an oceanview cabin or balcony, I would have sensed some light coming in the room and been more aware if it was night or day time.

By the end of the 5-night sailing, I knew the next time I stay in an inside cabin I need to make changes.

I think one factor for me was the length of the sailing.  Most (if not all) of my inside cabin experiences have been on short weekend cruises.  

Weekend cruises go by so quickly and there's so much happening that I don't think the lack of light impacts me as much as on a longer sailing.

While I loved how easy it was to fall asleep in the darkness of the room, I lamented every morning re-adjusting to that lack of light.

I'd stumble around getting up, turn on the lights in the cabin and bathroom, and it felt like "deer in headlights" every time.

Of course, once I was awake and had my wits about me, my inside cabin was perfectly acceptable.

It's not spacious, but it offers just enough space for my belongings and there's room at the vanity for my laptop so I can start my work for the day.

In fact, I think the amount of storage space for a ship as small and old as Serenade of the Seas is ample, and it's better than some newer ship inside cabins I've been in.

Three things I'll do differently next time

Since coming home, I started working on how I could make the inside cabin experience better to avoid this issue.

First, I will bring a sunrise alarm clock with me on my cruise.

I probably mocked this device the first time I heard of it, but I think this would be the game changer for my problem.

It's an alarm clock that has a light that will illuminate slowly to let you know there's daylight out.

The sunrise alarm clock I bought has a gradual light, with two alarms and even has noise you can sleep to: birds, running water, white noise, and more. (Link contains an Amazon affiliate link that costs you nothing extra to use, but I get a commission if you buy it)

It also has a sunset feature which will slowly get darker as the evening progresses, but I doubt I'd use that feature since that never bothered me.  Plus, I'm rarely in my cabin past dinner until it's time to sleep.

The second thing I'll bring with me is a nightlight for the bathroom.

I was lucky that this particular cabin had a motion activated light in the ceiling. I had never seen that on any Royal Caribbean ship, and I assume it was added because of the World Cruise.

Some newer Royal Caribbean ships have a standby light in the bathroom, but the one on Serenade was pitch black. 

I'll admit, there are times I've tried to use the facilities without turning a light on so that I could fall back asleep easier, but it doesn't always work out as well as my memory of the bathroom would lead me to believe.

Therefore, a battery operated nightlight is probably the right move to pack as well. (Amazon affiliate link included here)

It's powered by 3 AAA batteries and has LED lights that are activated when motion is detected. The base is magnetic too, so that means you can attach it to any wall or door in your cabin.

Lastly, I'd probably at least consider trying bidding for a stateroom upgrade.

It never crossed my mind to try a Royal Up bid, but I also think I was focused on my super cheap deal. 

Nonetheless, I bet it would have been a low cost to move up to an oceanview cabin. For $50-$100 extra, it probably would have been worth trying to upgrade my cabin.

Of course, there's no guarantee there will be an upgrade option actually available or that your bid will win, but it's a low risk and high reward option.  As long as the bid isn't too outrageous, I feel like it might be the perfect opportunity to give it a try.

There's one extra important step to take before going on a European cruise in 2025 if you're sailing from the United Kingdom.

There's a new requirement for tourists visiting the UK that goes into effect next month and it adds a piece of digital paperwork

As of January 8, 2025, travelers from the United States, Canada, and Australia will need to obtain a UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom. European nationals have until April 2, 2025 to start using it.

It applies to tourists, business travelers, and even flight layovers. If you try to go to the UK without a valid ETA, you may face fines or be denied boarding by their airline.

The point of it is to enhance border security through advanced screening.

Essentially, this is a digital travel permission system. Don't confuse it with a visa, as it's meant to streamline border control processes and allows authorities to screen travelers before they arrive.

Do you need to get an ETA?

If you aren't a resident of Ireland or the UK, you're probably going to need to get an ETA.

However, when you need to start getting one depends on where you live.

Residents of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have already been using the system as part of a pilot program.

Citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia: The new requirement begins January 8, 2025.

Citizens of European Union countries, along with other eligible European nations: The requirement doesn't begin until April 2, 2025, but since cruises are in the summer, they'll still need to get one for this season.

The following people are exempt from getting one:

• UK and Irish citizens
• Travelers with valid UK visas

How the ETA works

The application fee is £10 ($13 USD), and it's all done online.

Once you do it, you can use it for for two years or until the your passport expires, whichever comes first. That means you can take multiple trips to the UK without re-applying again.

Here’s what you’ll need to apply:

1. A valid passport: Ensure your passport has sufficient validity for your travel plans.
2. A recent digital photo: The photo must meet UK passport photo requirements.
3. Travel details: Provide the dates and purpose of your trip.
4. A valid debit or credit card: This will be used to pay the £10 application fee.
5. An email address: This is where you’ll receive confirmation of your ETA approval.

The system claims it can take up to 3 days to process, but some people are reporting it taking just a few minutes.

You can apply for an ETA online or through the iPhone or Android apps. 

You just need to have it before you begin your travel to Europe. The airline may ask to see it before you fly.

A new set of cruise rankings are out, and it's clear Royal Caribbean is doing something right.

This year's Cruise Critic Best in Cruise Awards have been announced, and Royal Caribbean came away with a few important wins.

This is the 16th annual awards, and it's a reflection of rankings based on Cruise Critic’s editors and best-reviewed cruise lines of the past year "from real cruisers".

While there are different publications that put out awards, Cruise Critic specializes and dedicates more staff than anyone else to cruises exclusively.

There are 9 major categories, and a number of sub categories to give awards out to, and Royal Caribbean took home wins in a few important areas.

Best cruise line and ship

The top award is for Best Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean was the winner.

Cruise Critic chose among the lines based on, "number of awards, innovation, consistency across fleet, consumer feedback and inclusivity."

Between its new ships and highly-rated destinations, Royal Caribbean is referred to as, "a leader in the industry."

Moreover, the editors see a bright future with the launch of new beach clubs and private destinations around the Caribbean.

Another key win for Royal Caribbean was the naming of Icon of the Seas as the Best New Ship of 2024.

Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 and immediately became a global sensation for evolving the mega ship experience further, and setting a new standard.

Cruise Critic said of the first Icon Class ship, "The world’s largest cruise ship takes Royal Caribbean’s uber-popular, family-friendly vacations to dizzying new heights."

While Royal Caribbean also launched Utopia of the Seas this year, it's clear the new class and innovations on Icon set it apart.

Read more: Icon vs Utopia of the Seas

Icon appeals to a wide range of cruisers, with a growing focus on the family cruise market. It was built to offer more for everyone than any other ship has before.

More wins for Royal Caribbean

Cruise Critic gave Royal Caribbean top honors in a few other categories as well.

Best Suites was a win, based on quality and range of choice in these cabins.

Their editors felt the suites on Royal Caribbean's newer ships especially stood out as being, "especially impressive." In particular they really liked the brand-new Solarium Suites found aboard Utopia of the Seas.

They compared the Solarium Suites to just about any luxury vessel offering.

Royal Caribbean was also the winner for the Best Entertainment category.

"Royal Caribbean continues to consistently push the boundaries of onboard cruise ship entertainment," the editors said in their review.

Piggy-backing on Icon of the Seas' win, the Aquatheater show on the new ship stood out in particular. 

Cruise Critic also said Royal Caribbean had the Best Nightlife of any line.

"There’s simply always something to do," they said in reference to how much is going on after dark.

Part of this win is attributed to Utopia of the Seas being designed to offer the biggest party vibe of any ship since.

Another important win was Royal Caribbean being named as having the Best App.

"You can book shore excursions and dinner reservations well before your sail date, as well as peruse the daily planner and create your own schedule of activities. We love the chat feature that allows you to text fellow cruisers while on the ship’s Wi-Fi, without having to purchase a Wi-Fi package."

Not to be overlooked, Perfect Day at CocoCay was named Best Private Destination.

The award notes, "Perfect Day at CocoCay has set the bar for what a cruise line private destination should be," and it's clear based on how other lines are clearly basing their private island changes on what CocoCay has developed.

Award snubs

It wasn't a full sweep for Royal Caribbean, as the line lost out in a few categories to other lines:

Cruisers' Choice Best Ocean Cruise Line

1. Margaritaville at Sea
2. Virgin Voyages
3. Celebrity Cruises

• Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
• Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
• Best Specialty Dining: Celebrity Cruises
• Best for Service: Holland America Line
• Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line
• Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line
• Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line
• Best for LGBTQ+: Virgin Voyages
• Best for Romance: Princess Cruises
• Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line

Awards are meant to be debated among cruise fans and cruise lines alike, so there's bound to be differing opinions.

Did Royal Caribbean make a change to how you are served a can of soda or beer?

Over the weekend, cruisers posted on social media that they were told a new policy is in place related to how bartenders can give out a canned beverage when ordered.

There's been a few posts on Facebook indicating you can no longer order a can of soda with your loyalty benefits and have it served unopened.

When you order a soda on a Royal Caribbean ship at a bar or restaurant, you're served the can and a glass to pour it in, but you could ask for the can to be unopened to have it later.

At select tiers of Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society, guests are entitled to free drinks every day of their cruise. Diamond members get four free drinks up to $14 each day, Diamond Plus members get five, and Pinnacle Club members get six. 

"Royal has a new policy that our Diamond plus drink vouchers can not be used to take unopened soft drinks or beer away to our rooms," wrote Don Watson in a Facebook group from his cruise on Utopia of the Seas.

In a different group, Doug Brown said the same policy is in place on Freedom of the Seas, "we can no longer have closed loyalty beverages, our 4,5,6 a day now have to be opened at the bar when served."

According to Mr. Brown, he questioned the new policy, "Beverage manager said it was corporate and not up to him."

The vouchers these cruisers are referring to are the complimentary daily drink vouchers that Royal Caribbean gives its top cruisers, beginning at the Diamond level.

Up until now, guests could order unopened cans and bring them back to their cabin to consume later or take off the ship on a shore excursion.

The daily drink vouchers must be used up each day, or they disappear.  For many cruisers, they would use up their vouchers before going to sleep as a way to maximize their benefit.

Since the initial posts about the policy went out on Saturday and Sunday, there have been follow-up posts from cruisers claiming the policy was amended to apply to alcoholic beverages, and not non-alcoholic beverages.  Meaning cans of beer would not be served closed, but cans of soda could be served unopened.

Fleetwide change?

It's not yet clear if this is indeed a fleetwide policy or perhaps a test on certain ships.

For years it's been the practice that you could get cans of soda with your drink vouchers unopened, so if this is indeed a new policy, it potentially alters the value of that benefit.

Bringing back unopened cans of soda would allow for the drinks to be consumed later, taken off the ship on an excursion, or brought elsewhere to be enjoyed.

There's been no official communication to guests of the new policy, if it does indeed exist, and why the change has been made.

Adding to the confusion are the posts from Sunday that perhaps it's changed again.

Debbie Vestal Reis wrote, "Apparently, corporate had a lot of complaints. They have changed to only alcoholic beverages. So, I suppose the only beverages would be beer and wine? The officer on her ship showed her to up to date email."

Another cruiser that is on Enchantment of the Seas added, "we’re on the Enchantment and according to the bar staff as well as the C & A Loyalty Rep, that only applies to alcoholic beverages. The rule was implemented yesterday and changed this morning."

Why the policy changed

A major debate topic surrounds why make Royal Caribbean made the beverage policy change, and there are plenty of opinions.

Many seem to think it's a change born out of a perceived problem with abusing the benefits.

"To many Diamond members and above filling cruise ships utilizing the free drink vouchers. The hope is people won’t use all their drink vouchers each day. However, people are stocking up on soda, juice etc," wrote John Pete.

Miriam Marcotte Cartmell said, "I do not understand the 'why' here since we have had it closed for YEARS. If it is my voucher, what does it matter? I like to take a closed water back to the cabin for my use vs the tap. I am not cheating getting more than amount, so why?"

Dale Joley thinks it's about sharing drinks with others that's the root cause, "That’s not a problem but a solution. Too many people sharing drinks. I don’t have a problem with that."

Cruisers can breathe a sigh of temporary relief in regards to a new tax that would have gone into effect soon.

The Mexican government approved a new tax last week that would target cruise ship passengers visiting the country. 

However, there's been a temporary reprieve.

Thanks to pressure applied by a number of cruise lines through the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), the new tax won't go into effect as quickly.

According to a statement issued by the FCCA, a meeting on Friday resulted in Mexican officials delaying the implementation of its new Federal Law of Rights tax on cruise passengers from January 1 until July 1, 2025.

The new tax will add a $42 per person to enter the country. That's per sailing, not per port.

Mexico is a major country with many ports of calls that attract cruise ships. Over 10 million passengers are expected in 2025 alone.

When the new tax is added, it would increase the fees cruise passengers pay by 213% more than the average cost at Caribbean ports. The FCCA says it raises,  "serious questions about the competitiveness of Mexican destinations in the global cruise market."

Moreover, it's an unfair tax because of how it targets cruise ship passengers that are in the country for a few hours. 

"A family of four visiting a Mexican cruise port having to pay an additional $168 in fees for just a few hours ashore, while tourists crossing the border by land who visit for seven days or less remain exempt from this tax, will have far reaching impacts."

Historically, cruise ship passengers were exempt from tourism taxes, as guests sleep onboard the ship and some choose not to disembark in the ports of call. Under the new policy, all cruise guests would be charged the $42 fee regardless of whether they go ashore or not.

Not only would the tax be enormous, but it would largely be used to fund Mexico's military, rather than benefiting the ports or people nearby.

'Ripple effects'

This new tax has major implications beyond simply making a cruise more expensive.

The FCCA warns such a hefty tax could deter visitors, alter cruise itineraries, and create economic ripple effects in communities that heavily rely on cruise tourism.

If just 15% of cruise ships dropped calls to Mexico, the result would be a negative economical impact that could undermine the intended purpose of the tax to begin with.

"Even a minimal decrease in cruise traffic would result in millions of dollars in lost revenue for local businesses, tours, and services – offsetting or even surpassing the total tax revenue projected from the measure," the FCCA explained.

By making Mexico one of the most expensive cruise destinations in the world, it could make the country unattractive to lines from stopping there and that could lead to less income, fewer jobs and lower tax revenues for the government.

"The impact of this tax on Mexican tourist destinations will be disastrous," stated the Mexican Association of Cruises. "If implemented, we expect to see a progressive drop in arrivals, which will significantly affect employment for taxi drivers, tour guides, artisans, waiters, restaurateurs, craft store owners, pharmacies, and more.

Michele Paige, CEO of FCCA, emphasized the importance of addressing long-term concerns despite the temporary delay. "We thank the Mexican government for listening to our concerns and proposing a delay in the implementation of the tax that will fall mainly on American citizens.

"However, the removal of the in-transit tax exemption – which was provided to our industry over a decade ago for valid reasons that still apply today – was done without our prior input and after the legislation was passed. It is ironic that until this law was abruptly announced the industry was looking to grow business in Mexico, and now the opposite will occur."

Cruise passengers on one Royal Caribbean ship ran into a deluge of water on one coming out of the ceiling.

A guest on Allure of the Seas shared video from this weekend's sailing of water pouring out of the ceiling on one deck.

TikTok user joshuaofrichardson posted a 30 second video of water flooding the hallway, pooling outside stateroom doors.

No explanation was given in the video, but it looks like a water pipe likely burst above one of the ceiling panels, leading to water flowing unabated below.

Just like your house or a hotel, pipes can burst for any number of reasons and without warning.

Every cruise ship has a team of mechanics and maintenance crew members that live onboard the ship to deal with issues like this at any time of day or night.

The video appears to have been taken just minutes after the leak began. There was no mention of which deck this incident occurred on.

In the comments, the video author wrote, "update pipe stopped and leak being fixed and people moved right away to other rooms. RC does things right when nature rumbles."

In a follow-up video, joshuaofrichardson said crew members cleaned up the mess that evening, saying "everything's fine."

He also said any guests that had a cabin affected by the water were moved to another cabin.

He went on to commend Royal Caribbean for taking quick action and helping their customers out, "No loss or damage or anything like that to the people, so that's really great about Royal Caribbean, they do take care of you right away."

Allure of the Seas is sailing a 3-night Bahamas cruise that departed Miami on December 6, with visits scheduled to Nassau, Bahamas and Royal Caribbean's private island.

The 225,282 gross ton ship is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and despite the leak, the sailing continued on without delay.

Internet reacts to the video

Since the video was posted, there have been over 320,000 views and plenty of comments.

As is such with viral videos of something going wrong, you get all sorts of hot takes from people across the internet.

"I’ve seen this in a movie before didn’t end well," Yodaj6 wrote.

"This is why I’ll NEVER go on a cruise," wrote Gwyn Wolters-Smith.

"omg the way I would be freaking out thinking we were sinking," was posted by Author Katherine Bryant.

Someone who is also sailing on Allure noted the issue wasn't affecting their deck, "I'm on this ship right now and didn't experience this. it must be below us."

Personally, I enjoy the creative comments that some people had to make a joke. Here are the top ones:

• "Why is the carpet all wet Todd? I don’t know Margo!"
• "All I know is Rose better move over this time! There was plenty of room for Jack"
• "on the upside the rugs are clean"

Other recent water incidents

Accidents involving water leaks and sprays occur from time to time, but they're quite rare.

Recently there's been a couple of notable incidents involving sprinkler system malfunctions on Royal Caribbean ships that soaked guests, but did not result in any significant damage to anyone.

During a Halloween sailing on Symphony of the Seas, the ship's sprinkler system went off on the Royal Promenade during a party.

A fog machine was the culprit in activating the sprinklers, and that's because smoke detectors measure the density of particles in the air, fog effects (especially dense fog effects) can 'fool' the detectors and trigger a fire alarm.

On the inaugural sailing of Wonder of the Seas in March 2022, a sprinkler malfunction on the ship’s Royal Promenade also flooded the area.

Once again, the water was contained and cleaned up, but caused a stir among passengers.

The reality is while these incidents are incredible to witness when they happen, they don't put the ship or passengers in any direct harm and it's more of a large nuisance and "oopsie" that gets taken care of quickly.

Happy December! We cannot believe that we are already one full week into the month – there is so much going on with holiday preparation and shopping and baking!

There's a new addition to Royal Caribbean's list of banned items you can't bring on a cruise.

The list of prohibited items was updated to include certain networking and satellite equipment, which includes closing a loophole some cruisers used to save money on an internet package.

Travel routers were being used to extend a one device internet package to be available to many more, and it appears that's officially not allowed.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean's new beach club in The Bahamas is a kind of super shore excursion
• Utopia of the Seas cabins to avoid
• 10 cruise ship tips that worked for our Royal Caribbean Blog staffers in 2024
• Ultimate Baby & Toddler Cruise Packing List
• I cruised from a port Royal Caribbean rarely sails from. it's a strange and different first day experience
• 7 things I wish I knew before setting foot on a Celebrity ship
• I got a free cruise from Royal Caribbean's casino. It was the perfect price, but I wish I had a window

Video: Why December is my favorite month to 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 — Why December is my favorite month to cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 551st episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available that delves into if a smaller Royal Caribbean ship is a good choice for a family cruise.

If you're taking a family on their first cruise, is it a good or bad idea to take them on a small ship?

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

Royal Caribbean has made a big change to the free casino offers

There's been an important change to those instant reward casino certificates.

Beginning with the December offers, the Casino Royale program is offering a new option where one guest is complimentary, while the second guest discounted. 

It's essentially a buy one free, second cheap offer.

These are the 11 things cruisers are actually scared of during their sailing

Forget falling off a cruise ship, people that cruise a lot have real concerns that concern them.

While there are plenty of cruise myths that keep people from trying a cruise, those that have sailed before have their own set of worries.

From passports to being left behind, our readers shared their top worries when cruising.

New phone scam targets Royal Caribbean cruisers

Be careful before searching for a Royal Caribbean phone number to call.

One cruiser shared an example of how they were almost scammed by a fraudulent phone number that claimed to be the cruise line.

She found the number on Google, but it turned out to be a scam.

Things cruisers regretted not taking on their cruise

What is an item you wished you had brought with you on your last cruise?

People shared in a Reddit thread the one thing they really wish they brought with them on their cruise.

With the holiday sales upon us, this is a good opportunity to net big savings on these cruise essentials.

Royal Caribbean Blog staff members cruised over 50 times in 2024, sailing on dozens of vessels to countless ports around the world. As professional cruisers, we certainly know the ins and outs of cruising. That being said, there are always lessons to be learned on any cruise vacation.

Whether sailing on the world’s largest ship, Icon of the Seas, or on one of Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships, Vision of the Seas, our team followed a wide range of cruise tips throughout the year.

From stocking up on cheap cruise essentials to opting out of Royal Caribbean's shore excursions, here are the top 10 cruise tips that worked for our Royal Caribbean Blog staffers in 2024.

Calista booked non-Royal Caribbean shore excursions to save money

Royal Caribbean Blog writer Calista took 7 cruises in 2024, trying out new ships like Utopia of the Seas and smaller, older vessels like Brilliance and Rhapsody of the Seas.

Her cruises took her around the Caribbean and Europe, visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, and Barcelona, among other ports.

Related: 8 lessons I learned from every Royal Caribbean cruise I took this year

On most itineraries, Calista booked shore excursions directly through Royal Caribbean. Yet while this was convenient, Royal Caribbean’s excursions are typically more expensive than tours booked through independent operators.

So, during a visit to Nassau, Calista branched out and booked an excursion through shoreexcursions.com instead of through Royal Caribbean.

She paid just $50 per person for an excursion to nearby Pearl Island, whereas Royal Caribbean charged over $100 for a similar tour!

There are several advantages to booking directly through the cruise line, including a guaranteed return to the ship even if the tour runs late. Nonetheless, Calista had a great experience booking a shore excursion on her own.

Matt packed USB hubs and a long charging cable for his cabin

Matt boarded Allure of the Seas in February for a short 3-night cruise—one of his 14 (and counting) cruises in 2024. While packing, he made the mistake of assuming his cabin would have abundant outlets. Instead, due to the cabin's older design, he found himself struggling to charge all of his electronics throughout the cruise.

After this experience, he packed extra USB hubs and a long charging cord for the rest of his cruises in 2024. Even though cabins on new ships like Icon of the Seas have more than enough charging ports, this is not the case for cabins on older ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

Note: While Royal Caribbean banned multi-plug outlet adapters earlier this year, USB hubs are still allowed.

Angie reserved entertainment shows before her cruise to ensure she had a seat

On select Royal Caribbean ships, guests can reserve entertainment shows ahead of their cruise on the Cruise Planner website. Because popular productions like Broadway shows can book up quickly, it’s recommended that guests reserve entertainment prior to embarkation day.

Earlier this year, social media strategist Angie took advantage of this advice while preparing for her Harmony of the Seas cruise. She made reservations online for the Broadway production of Grease and other popular events, which guaranteed her a seat.

During the cruise, Angie was grateful she took the time to make entertainment reservations ahead of time. When entering the theater, she noticed a long line of passengers waiting for standby seats at these events.

Related: 7 mistakes I saw passengers make on Harmony of the Seas

Instead of waiting in line and hoping for a seat at a fully-booked show, Angie could walk directly into the theater with her reservation.

Speaking of lines, Angie reserved Traditional Dining over My Time Dining to save time and hassle

The Main Dining Room is a staple of any cruise, and Angie enjoyed dozens of meals in the restaurant on her 8 cruises this year.

While booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, guests must choose between Traditional Dining and My Time Dining. Traditional Dining means passengers dine at the same time each evening with the same table and wait staff. My Time Dining, on the other hand, gives guests flexibility to reserve different dining times each evening.

Related: Royal Caribbean My Time Dining Versus Traditional Dining

Although My Time Dining allows for more flexibility, guests must remember to make dining reservations in advance. If not, they’ll be stuck waiting in line for an open table.

Angie almost always chooses Traditional Dining, and she was glad to have a guaranteed table and dining time each evening of her cruises. There was no need to make reservations individually for each dinner, and she never had to wait in a long line to enter the Main Dining Room.

Elizabeth tried an extra-cost activity on a port day for free

When writer Elizabeth cruised to Alaska earlier this year on Quantum of the Seas—one of 11 cruises in 2024—she was excited to try RipCord by iFLY, the ship’s indoor skydiving simulator. This activity is only available on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships, so trying the activity was a must for Elizabeth while onboard.

Related: I went on a 7-night cruise to Alaska. Here are 16 things that surprised me the most

However, RipCord by iFLY is unlike most Royal Caribbean activities in that it offers varied price options. On port days, the activity is complimentary for a 1-minute flight experience. Sea days, meanwhile, offer a 2-minute flight for nearly $100 per person.

Elizabeth wanted to save money, so she tried the skydiving simulator when her ship was docked in Icy Strait Point. The complimentary 1-minute experience allowed her to get a taste for the activity without spending extra.

Jenna booked her 2024 cruises with a travel agent, leading to savings and extra perks

Perhaps the most tried-and-true cruise tip we share at Royal Caribbean Blog is to book with a travel agent, and I followed this tip on each of my cruises in 2024.

As Royal Caribbean Blog’s video editor, I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s two newest ships this year: Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas. Although I typically book most travel, such as flights and hotels, on my own, I always book cruises with a trusted travel agent.

Related: Why first-time cruisers should use a Royal Caribbean travel agent

Booking with a travel agent meant I didn’t need to do anything myself, and I got extra perks like onboard credit and discounted rates along the way. On my Utopia of the Seas cruise, in fact, my travel agent scored an upgraded balcony cabin in a more central location than what I originally booked.

A good travel agent will cost you nothing extra, and it’s one of the most helpful cruise tips to follow.

Allie stocked up on cheap cruise essentials from Dollar Tree

Packing for a cruise can feel overwhelming, especially if you follow every packing list on the internet to a tee. That $30 pair of sandals and $300 underwater camera would be nice, of course, but there’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on your cruise packing list.

Nonetheless, there are some essentials you do need to pack for a cruise, such as toiletries, and many cruisers also enjoy packing fun items like door decorations, too.

When Royal Caribbean Blog writer Allie was preparing for a cruise this year, she decided to shop at Dollar Tree for her cruise essentials. She purchased items like over-the-counter medication, magnetic clips, and travel-sized toiletries for just $1.25 each instead of spending significantly more at a store like Target.

Related: 5 Dollar Tree Items Cruisers Should Stock Up on Before Their Sailing

Sure, items may be more limited, but Allie was surprised how well this packing tip worked while cruising on a budget.

When sailing on the world’s largest cruise ship, Calista tried as many dining venues as possible

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas was, undoubtedly, the most anticipated cruise ship of 2024, and Calista had the opportunity to sail on the vessel this past summer.

As the biggest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas boasts mind-blowing entertainment venues like the AquaDome and endless thrills at the ship’s Category 6 Waterpark. Aside from activities, though, are an abundance of dining venues, from casual grab-and-go spots to high-end restaurants.

Related: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

During Calista’s week on Icon of the Seas, she made it a point to try the ship’s diverse dining options. She loved the Mediterranean bowls at AquaDome Market and grab-and-go snacks at Pearl Cafe.

It’s easy to get into a routine of dining at only the Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet, but trying a variety of restaurants while cruising ensures that each day’s dining experience is different from the last. Plus, you might discover a new favorite dish!

Elizabeth tried Royal Caribbean’s coffee card, allowing her to try new beverages

Royal Caribbean’s Deluxe Beverage Package might be the most popular drink package—who doesn’t love unlimited cocktails, after all—but coffee lovers shouldn’t overlook the cruise line’s Cafe Select Coffee Card.

Elizabeth skipped a drink package on her recent cruise to Bermuda, instead opting for Royal Caribbean’s coffee card. For $36.58, the punch card entitled her to 15 espresso-based beverages throughout the cruise. As a plus, the card could be shared between Elizabeth and her travel partner (unlike a drink package).

Related: I tried the Royal Caribbean drink package nobody talks about. Why it's worth the money

With the card, the price per specialty coffee came out to around $2.43 per drink. Considering each drink could cost over $5 without the card, Elizabeth was pleased she gave it a try.

Matt arrived to his embarkation city with more than enough time to spare

European cruises are all the rage during the summer, and Matt was excited to head across the pond this past August for his own European adventure. Matt’s 7-night Spain and France cruise was set to depart from Southampton, so he made sure to arrive in London with plenty of time to spare before embarkation day.

If there’s just one piece of advice to follow when planning a cruise, it’s to always fly into your cruise embarkation city at least one day ahead of time.

Related: The worst part of flying to Europe could easily ruin half your cruise

Our staff members have heard far too many horror stories of cancelled flights, missed connections, and other travel mishaps en route to a cruise. Booking a flight the same day your cruise begins is risky; no one wants to risk missing their cruise altogether due to a travel delay.

Therefore, Matt arrived in London two days before embarkation day. Not only did this ensure he would make it to the port even if he encountered delays, but it also gave him time to recover from jet lag. As a plus, Matt had time to enjoy London’s highlights, too!

Between shore excursions, drink packages, and Wi-Fi, there are tons of ways to rack up a high bill on your Royal Caribbean cruise. 

Cruisers often try to find ways to avoid the high costs of add-ons by smuggling alcohol onboard or bringing a Wi-Fi router. However, Royal Caribbean recently banned a popular item used to help maximize the perks of a single internet package. 

Moving forward, passengers shouldn't be surprised if their travel router is confiscated during embarkation, as the cruise line updated its prohibited items list. 

In addition to items like drugs, guns, and knives, "satellite dishes, routers, and other networking equipment" are now included under the "cybersecurity and deliberate electronic crime" category.

Packing one of these items for your next cruise could result in it being confiscated, wasting your money and luggage space. You're better off purchasing an extra Wi-Fi package or sharing one. 

For many cruisers, the internet packages offered on Royal Caribbean are a major add-on expense. A single Wi-Fi package covers one device, but many passengers use a travel router to extend the connection across multiple devices and allow groups of friends or families to share one package.

Royal Caribbean isn't the first cruise line to list routers on its prohibited items list. Carnival Cruise Line's list also states that "satellite dish[es], routers and other internet related equipment" are not allowed onboard.

Read more: Royal Caribbean will not give away free Wi-Fi on its cruise ships

Royal Caribbean's VOOM internet can cost over $20 per day for one device

Unlike other lines, Royal Caribbean offers just one Wi-Fi package: VOOM Surf + Stream. The actual cost varies based on factors like your ship, sail date, cruise length, and ongoing Cruise Planner sales. 

However, it's not uncommon to see it priced at around $20 per day, meaning you can easily spend over $150 on an internet package for a 7-night cruise. 

You can usually expect to save 30% by adding one or more devices to a single plan, but it's still expensive. For example, on my upcoming Icon of the Cruise sailing in April, the price of two devices is nearly $260. 

Wi-Fi is even expensive for crew members. Earlier this year, Bryan James, an entertainer for Royal Caribbean, revealed that he spends $12 per day on internet for just three hours of connectivity. It's not super fast, either. James added that his download speed was around 1 megabyte per second. 

If you were planning on bringing a Wi-Fi router to extend connectivity to other friends and family members, think again. LadBible first reported that social media accounts claim the routers are being confiscated during embarkation, confirming that the ban is being enforced.

Why are travel routers prohibited? 

Though Royal Caribbean hasn't made an official statement about the ban, the items are listed underneath the "cybersecurity and deliberate electronic crime" category. 

Routers and other networking equipment can potentially interfere with the ship’s onboard systems, leading to security risks and connectivity problems for passengers and crew. 

Instead of smuggling a router onboard, consider other options like purchasing additional devices on a single plan or limiting your internet usage to when in port. 

How to get free Wi-Fi on Royal Caribbean ships

Although Wi-Fi is not included in the cost of a Royal Caribbean cruise, there are a few ways to get free (or cheaper) internet onboard.

The first is to work your way up the Crown & Anchor Society ranks to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club. Once you've earned 80 cruise points, you'll receive one free day of Wi-Fi per cruise. Diamond Plus guests, or those with a minimum of 175 cruise points, get two days. 

While it's not a lot, it can help offset the cost of staying connected during your trip. Instead of splurging on a package, you can use your complimentary internet days at sea and look for free Wi-Fi in port. 

If you are a Pinnacle Club member, you will receive a complimentary VOOM Surf + Stream package for one device, regardless of the length of your cruise.

Another smart way to reduce the price of your internet package is to use onboard credit. While it may not cover the full price, especially on longer cruises, it can still help it can help reduce the overall expense.

Frequent gamblers at Casino Royale could also be eligible for free Wi-Fi. Club Royale is Royal Caribbean’s casino rewards program that enables guests to earn Tier Credits by gambling while onboard. The more you gamble, the more benefits you'll receive.

Read more: I got a free cruise from Royal Caribbean's casino

For example, Prime tier members—those with 2,500 Tier Credits—get a discount on a VOOM Surf + Stream package, while Signature members receive free Wi-Fi on one device. However, to reach the Signature tier, you must accumulate 25,000 Tier Credits. 

Finally, Masters members—gamblers with 100,000+ Tier Credits—receive complimentary internet on two devices. Unlike Crown & Anchor status, tiered membership within Club Royale must be renewed annually. 

While you likely aren't worried about saving money if you're looking at booking a Royal Caribbean suite, one perk of the higher categories is included internet. Guests staying in Grand Suites and above on Quantum, Oasis, and Icon Class ships receive a complimentary VOOM Surf + Stream Wi-Fi package. Even better? Each guest in the stateroom receives an internet package for one device, so there's no need to share! 

It's hard to pass up a good deal, especially for a cruise that costs you next to nothing.  Well, sort of.

I sailed on a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas from Tampa that was free as a result of my status with the cruise line's casino.

You may have heard about there are certain benefits for those that gamble enough in the casino on a cruise ship. While Royal Caribbean has a loyalty program, the casino has its own mini-loyalty program that is in addition to Crown and Anchor Society.

The second tier offers free drinks in the casino, discounts on internet access and at least one free cruise per year that you qualify.

I redeemed my free cruise offer, and it is indeed as advertised.  The only catch is you have to gamble to earn it.

How free is free?

The cruise fare is indeed free, and all I had to do was pay the taxes and fees of $397.00 for two people.

In exchange for earning enough points in Royal Caribbean's casino loyalty program, I was awarded a free cruise to book. This free cruise isn't based on how much you gambled on a particular sailing. Rather, it's an annual benefit of being at least Prime within Casino Royale loyalty program.

Anyone that hits Prime or higher status in a casino year gets awarded a free cruise. It's given out in April, and it's good for a cruise within a year to book and sail on.

Your free cruise can be used on more or less any seven-night or shorter cruise that does not fall on a major holiday. And you can't book on any ship that's less than one year old. So you won't be able to go on Icon of the Seas (yet) or take the kids while they're on Spring Break.

There are many sailings to choose from, but also a lot of blackout dates. You'll have to careful find the right one, and that's assuming the casino offers aren't sold out for that sailing.

If you're flexible, it's not too difficult to find one. There's usually a lot in the fall and early winter when school is still in session.

As a Prime member (minimum 2500 points), I am entitled to an interior cabin on my free cruise.

I selected a Serenade of the Seas cruise because it was convenient, offered an opportunity to visit two ports in Mexico, and I like sailing on Radiance Class ships.

I booked the cruise through Royal Caribbean's casino department and also got $25 of free play in the casino with my booking.

My cabin was small and dark, but enough space for just me

I was given cabin 3047 midship on deck 3.

It was a little closer to the forward elevator banks, but pretty much in the middle of the deck. While deck 3 might not be the most popular location to have a cabin, it's exactly where you want to be if you want to minimize the sensation of movement to prevent seasickness.

I booked it as an Interior Guarantee cabin, which meant Royal Caribbean assigned me the exact room number.  To be honest, I forgot to check when my room was actually assigned, but saw it was actually a good location given that it met my top three criteria:

• No connecting door
• Above and below other cabins
• Near an elevator

I've stayed in plenty of inside cabins before, and this was exactly the sort of room I expected.

It's a Category 2V cabin, and Royal Caribbean describes it as, "our most budget-friendly option" and "A cozy and comfortable retreat, Perfect for long naps after an adventure-filled day."

I'd say that's a good description. It's the right cabin for a place to sleep, shower, and change. Otherwise, you will probably be out and about doing things elsewhere.

The room has all the standard features all cruise ship cabins offer: a bed that can be split up, private bathroom with shower, couch, vanity, and closet.

One notable change in this cabin was it had a nightlight in the ceiling near the bathroom. It's a motion-activated light, so if the room lights were off, the nightlight would come on and illuminate the room temporarily until movement ceased.

It's a nice feature, and something you don't find on any Royal Caribbean ship. I'm guessing it's a feature added for Royal Caribbean's first ever world cruise.

I was disappointed there were not more World Cruise upgrades offered. I heard from other passengers they had USB and electric outlets added to their cabin for the world cruise sailing, but my cabin was not one of them.

Speaking of lights, this inside room gets very dark when you turn the lights off. Since there's no natural light, it's pitch black when you go to bed. That's great for anyone who is disturbed by lights when sleeping, but it was strange to have my alarm go off and it still be quite dark. Anyone staying in this cabin might consider picking up a sunrise alarm clock to help make it feel more normal in that way.

The private bathroom is exactly what I needed, and it has the bare essentials. It's a small bathroom space, but functional.

I had one issue with the toilet not flushing on embarkation day, but there was a crew member working on the issue before I could even report it and it never was a problem after that.

The king size bed takes up most of the room, and it was quite comfortable. You can ask your cabin attendant to split the bed at any time.

There's just 160 square feet of living space, but for one person it's plenty. Even with two people, you might have to shuffle a bit, but it's functional enough.

I don't mind staying in an inside cabin, but after a few days I started missing having natural light or being able to glance outside and see if it's sunny, rainy, or dark.

I'm not the type of person that needs sunlight to feel good. Rather, it gives me perspective on what the weather is like, have we docked yet, and most importantly, is it 3pm or 3am.

The lack of natural light in the morning made it a bit jarring to wake up in a completely dark environment. While I wouldn't go as far as to say I'll never do it again, it was my primary gripe with this sort of a cabin.

On a 5-night cruise, it's short enough that it wasn't a big issue. But if I was sailing longer than 6 or 7 nights, I might have to rethink the cost savings.

A free room, if you're okay with the gambling risk

I got my free cruise as promised, and it was exactly what I expected.

There's no question Royal Caribbean's casino rewards are arguably the best value in cruising today, but there's a major caveat that it involves significant risk.

Gambling is addictive, and you could end up losing a lot of money in the process of trying to earn a "free cruise". 

You should be in a financial position where you can afford to lose money gambling in the casino without damaging your personal finances.  The annual tier free cruise is a bonus, not your primary booking strategy.

I estimate it will take about $2,000 - $3,000 to earn enough points to make it to Prime status and qualify for the annual tier cruise. That's a lot of money to gamble and potentially lose.

Moreover, you could go in with that amount in mind but the addictive nature of gambling would lead you to spend much more. Without a doubt, it's something not to take lightly.

In my situation, I felt the risks were worth it and I came away feeling like I got more out of the situation with my complimentary sailing (and other Casino Royale benefits) to justify it all.

I had a great cruise that cost me very little for the actual booking, and I'll be qualifying again in 2025 for my next tier certificate.