Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean will have a big musical act for anyone sailing on its annual President's Cruise.

The cruise line hosts a sailing each year where it invites its fans to sail and enjoy a cruise together, along with top executives.

The 2024 President's Cruise is going to be held on the June 23, 2024 Oasis of the Seas sailing from Barcelona, Spain.

It usually hosts a big musical act for one of the many events held onboard, and for the 2024 sailing, the '80s band Culture Club was announced on Tuesday as the top performer.

Culture Club is best known for songs such as, "Karma Chameleon", "I'll tumble 4 ya", and  "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me".

Last year's cruise included a live performance by ten-time Grammy winner Chaka Khan. 

They're one of the top bands of the 1980s decade, and have sold more than 50 million records.

On past President's Cruises, the featured musical act performs on one or two occasions in a specific venue. Tickets are given to Top Tier Crown and Anchor Society guests onboard, but the concert is televised to be seen anywhere else on the ship.

The 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise will depart from Barcelona, Spain and visit Palma De Mallorca, Spain; Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy; and Naples / Capri, Italy. 

What is the President's Cruise?

The President's Cruise is not a charter sailing, but is in fact a a regular sailing that was chosen by the cruise line as its President's Cruise. Anyone can book the cruise, and it's a celebration of Royal Caribbean for its biggest fans.

The cruise is hosted by Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley. 

Royal Caribbean's website describes it as, "The annual President’s Cruise is one of the most spectacular Royal Caribbean adventures. Set sail with President & CEO Michael Bayley on a special voyage filled with surprises and unique moments at every turn. We’re talking celebrity guest entertainment, customised shore excursions, exclusive parties, unforgettable events and so much more. No matter where in the world the President’s Cruise takes you, once-in-a-lifetime memories are always on the itinerary."

Essentially, it is a fun celebration of the cruise line for all loyal guests.

Additionally, there are usually surprises on the sailing, like giveaways, special events and commemorative opportunities.

Some of the most loyal Royal Caribbean fans can be found onboard President's Cruises, making them a kind of reunion amongst fans. 

What Oasis of the Seas offers

Oasis of the Seas is the namesake ship of the Oasis Class, which has held the world record for the largest cruise ships in the world since her inaugural cruise in December 2009. The title for largest cruise ship class in the world will be taken by the highly-anticipated Icon of the Seas in January 2024. 

Oasis Class ships are some of the best for large family vacations, as they offer an extensive amount of amenities and activities to appeal to travelers of all ages. 

She was the first ship in the world to feature interior facing balconies, as well as the beloved neighborhood concept. For the first time, guests could book balconies that overlooked the ship's Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods for less than a traditional oceanfront balcony. 

Additionally, she was the first to introduce the one-of-a-kind AquaTheater. Located in the aft of the ship in the Boardwalk neighborhood, this entrainment venue is home to high diving spectaculars the feature dancers, acrobats, and, of course, divers who take the plunge into the deepest pool at sea. 

In 2019, she underwent the cruise line's Royal Amplification program, receiving $165 million in enhancements, including the Ultimate Abyss, Perfect Storm waterslides, upgraded Caribbean-style pool deck, and new dining venues, one of which -- Portside BBQ -- is exclusive to Oasis of the Seas. This specialty restaurant serves a variety of barbecued meats and comfort food. 

When you book your Royal Caribbean stateroom, you can select between various categories.

Royal Caribbean cruises promise luxury of every sort, and this includes the staterooms.

Different stateroom categories, from suites to ocean views, allow you to choose a cabin that suits your preferences.

Whether you value a gorgeous view, a huge space, or sticking to a smaller budget, several options will fulfill your needs.

But while booking, you may come across some puzzling terms and run into several confusing acronyms.

It’s crucial that you clearly understand the differences between all the categories so that you can choose exactly which cabin will meet your needs.

If you’ve ever wondered what “GTY” means, and whether you should book it, this is your guide to demystifying the term.

Here's what stateroom GTY means, and how it can enhance your cruise experience.

“Stateroom Guaranteed”

“Stateroom GTY” stands for “Stateroom Guaranteed,” a category also known as a guarantee stateroom. 

When you’re booking your cruise on the Royal Caribbean website, this option also shows up as “We pick your stateroom.”

It means you select a certain stateroom category (interior, oceanview, balcony, or suite) on your booking.

Instead of selecting the exact cabin, this guarantees that you will receive one in that category.

When you select a GTY stateroom, the exact stateroom, number, and location will be assigned by Royal Caribbean based on availability.

You are promised at least your chosen category of cabin. 

If there is none available, Royal Caribbean will upgrade you to a higher category.

However, upgrades are rare and never promised. It is most likely that you will receive the cabin category you booked.

The promotional GTY categories also have acronyms that could confuse cruisers.

They are as follows:

• WS: Suite/Deluxe
• XB: Balcony
• XN: Neighborhood view balcony (on Oasis and Icon Class ships)
• YO: Oceanview 
• ZI: Interior 

On Oasis and Icon Class ships, you could be assigned a neighborhood view balcony stateroom with a view of Central Park, the Boardwalk, or Surfside.

Essentially, by booking a stateroom GTY, you opt for a guaranteed type of cabin, leaving the cruise line to assign you one from their selection of available inventory.

Should I book a guarantee cabin?

The main draw to booking a stateroom guarantee is that it usually comes at a cheaper price than selecting your own stateroom.

A guarantee cabin is an excellent option for flexible cruisers who want to save money on their cruise cabin.

By leaving the stateroom selection up to the cruise line, you give up control of the cabin’s location but gain a good deal and the excitement of a mystery cabin.

A guarantee cabin suits cruisers who enjoy being flexible and adventurous, and who don’t have their heart set on a particular cabin type or location.

However, there are several details you should consider before jumping into this type of booking.

As with any decision, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.

First, ensure that the deal makes sense with your budget.

The discount you get from booking GTY varies, so first check that the difference is worth it for you.

Next, keep in mind that you won’t be able to select the cabin’s location at all.

If you have certain preferences, like wanting your stateroom to be away from elevators, in the middle of the ship, or have an unobstructed view, all of these will be out of your control.

Cruisers who experience seasickness could be assigned a far-forward or far-aft cabin that may worsen their symptoms.

Other than the stateroom categories, you have no way to ensure that your preferences are met.

Guarantee staterooms are also usually unbooked cabins, meaning that they are probably less desirable.

You’ll be receiving the “leftovers” essentially, locations that are far back or far forward, or close to a noisy location like the nightclub.

If you need a particular type of cabin, such as an accessible cabin or connecting rooms, you should opt to select your own cabin instead.

Also, if you are traveling with family or friends, and want to stay close to them, remember that booking a guarantee cabin will leave this out of your control. 

If you book several different staterooms, they could be spread out all over the ship!

Additionally, if you are sailing on a back-to-back cruise (two or more cruises taken consecutively) and book a guarantee cabin, you could be assigned different cabins on each cruise.

This means you’d have to move staterooms in between your back-to-back cruises.

When will I receive my cabin assignment?

Before the sailing, Royal Caribbean assigns an unbooked room to its guaranteed cruisers.

The Royal Caribbean website reads that this could happen “at any time up until checking in at the port.”

After booking, most cruisers find that they receive their cabin assignment around 5 days to 4 weeks before the sailing.

This timing is influenced by factors such as availability, popularity of the sailing, and cabin category.

After your stateroom is assigned, no particular email or notification will be sent out.

You simply have to check the website or app to see if you’ve received your assignment.

Usually, this shows up in the form of the cabin category and the room number.

Once you receive this, you can look at the ship’s deck plans online to determine where the room is located.

Something to note, as well, is that you can still do Royal Up with a guaranteed cabin.

Royal Up is the process of bidding on a stateroom upgrade.

After booking your cabin and receiving a stateroom assignment, you can browse through further options.

You then select the amount you’d be willing to pay for each category upgrade. The more money you put down, the more likely you are to get an upgrade.

For example, if you’re interested in upgrading to an oceanview cabin, you can select that you’d be willing to pay $300 to receive one.

This is a bid priced per person, based on two guests per stateroom, and lasting for the entire length of the cruise.

You can bid on multiple rooms (this increases your chances of getting upgraded) but you’ll only pay for one.

If your bid is accepted, you’ll be charged the amount for the upgrade. If not, you keep the stateroom you have.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is the world's largest cruise ship and has 27 places to eat.

More than half are included with your cruise fare, including a giant dining room, buffet, pizzeria, and taco bar.

On top of that, there are 12 spots which cost extra. These range from sushi bar, to steakhouse, to classic Italian.

I recently spent a week on Icon of the Seas, and tried to eat as many different dishes as I could in that time.

Because I'm always looking for a budget-friendly cruise, I also challenged myself to only eat at complimentary venues on this cruise.

Even with limiting myself to free dining, there were more options onboard than I had the chance to try on my 7-day cruise.

I thought the food onboard was the best of any Royal Caribbean ship I've tried before.

Of course, food is subjective, and different people have their own opinions when it comes to dining.  From my perspective, here's how I'd rate each venue I dined at.

Read more: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Main Dining Room

Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room is the complimentary, sit-down dining venue on all ships. It serves 6,000 guests in a three and a half hour time frame for dinner alone.

Dinner is the most popular meal to attend in the Main Dining Room, and I elected to dine there with the traditional dining option. This means we had a the same table assignment, dinner time, and waiters every night of the cruise.

The Main Dining Room has a set menu for its four-course dinners that varies for every day of the cruise.

Because of that, I was familiar with most of the meals and could compare them to the ones I've tasted on other Royal Caribbean ships.

We started with a selection of tasty bread buns and ordered an appetizer from the menu.

The appetizers were tasty, and the portion sizes were pretty large.

The main course was about equal to the ones I've tried on other ships, but it did come a lot faster and warmer than I'm used to. The speed of service and temperature of the food was a big improvement.

I also saw a lot more vegan options available in the Main Dining Room. 

I usually order vegan ice cream for dessert, but on previous ships, they've only had a few flavors available (mostly chocolate and vanilla). 

On Icon, however, they had unique vegan flavors of ice cream, like chocolate praline crunch.

Pros:

• The meals were fast and hot
• There's no work involved; waiters do it all

Cons: 

• Dinner lasts at least an hour
• It's a more formal setting

Windjammer

The Windjammer on Icon felt vastly improved compared to other ships I've been on. It seemed to have an endless choice of dishes available, and was huge.

The complimentary buffet was open for three meals a day, every day.

Whether you enjoy waffles, hamburgers, salads, curry, roast beef, fruit, or grilled vegetables, there's something for everyone to try a taste of.

I also thought that the meals were of much higher quality than on other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

One thing I always look for is Asian food, and I loved this Windjammer's selection of Asian food—from Indian curries to Chinese sweet and sour chicken.

My only complaint was that, while some of it was flavorful, none of the food was very spicy. However, I understand that they have to appeal to a wider audience.

On the last day of the cruise, they also laid out a delicious charcuterie spread of fruits, olives, meats, and cheeses.

Pros:

• A variety of high-quality food
• Freedom to self-serve and go back for more

Cons:

• There's the potential to spread germs
• The food isn't very spicy 

Read more: 12 reasons to eat at the buffet instead of the dining room on your cruise

AquaDome Market

The AquaDome Market is an entirely new venue on Icon of the Seas, and I think they did an amazing job with it.

Located at the entrance to the ship's AquaDome, this dining location is a complimentary food hall—the first of its kind on a Royal Caribbean ship.

It features unique dishes at five distinct stalls: crépes, Asian food, mac and cheese, Mediterranean food, and sandwiches and salads.

I thought all of the food here was awesome, from the sweet crépes to Mediterranean bowls with chickpeas, to bacon mac and cheese.

The AquaDome Market was also conveniently open in the late afternoons when the Windjammer is usually closed and guests might be searching for a late lunch or snack.

Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

Pros:

• Strong variety of dishes
• Easy to split into a small snack or create a full meal

Cons:

• Not all of the food stalls will be open at the same time

Pearl Cafe

The Pearl Cafe is complimentary and located near the Pearl over the Royal Promenade, quickly became my favorite venue on board.

Because it's open all through the day and even late at night, the Pearl Cafe is a great, quick stop for coffee, snacks, drinks, or desserts.

Icon of the Seas upgraded the cafe with a wider variety of snacks and juices. I loved walking up to the open fridges and just picking out a snack.

I especially kept coming back for the portable containers of hummus, ranch, and vegetables; the perfect quick bite for me to sit down and eat or take back to my room.

Pros:

• Quick, easy place to grab a snack
• Open at all hours and has a fun view of the Promenade

Cons:

• A lot of plastic is used, so not very environmentally friendly
• You usually won't find non-dairy milk here

Park Cafe

The Park Cafe is somewhat of a hidden gem onboard Icon, and I heard about it from a crew member at the Pearl Cafe.

He recommended eating at the complimentary venue for breakfast, and I am so glad I took his advice.

Located in the beautiful, sunny Central Park, the Park Cafe is a free venue that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner—including the popular Kummelweck sandwiches!

I tried both breakfast and lunch at this location and thought the food was pretty regular.

However, there were a lot of choices available (especially if you like pastries for breakfast or sandwiches for lunch) and Central Park is the perfect location for a meal.

Pros:

• Beautiful atmosphere and location, sometimes with live music!
• Lots of complimentary food and snacks

Cons:  

• Most of the food here wasn't stellar
• There weren't many gluten-free options

Read more: The 10 Essential Dishes to Eat on Icon of the Seas

El Loco Fresh

El Loco Fresh is Royal Caribbean's venue for Mexican cuisine, and it's also included in your cruise fare.

They serve grab-and-go food like burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and salsa.

I loved the bright, fun decorations of this venue, and the easy access to the pool decks onboard.

However, my travel buddy and I thought the food was nothing special.

While I love Mexican food at home, the selections I tried at this venue were tasteless and chewy.

Perhaps I made a mistake in grabbing the pre-made packs of food and should have built my own meal instead, where I would have the ability to add all the sauces and seasoning I desired.

Pros:

• Easy access from the pool decks
• Hot grab-and-go food

Cons:

• The pre-made food wasn't very flavorful 
• Only a small selection of dishes available

Sorrento's

Sorrento's pizza is a Royal Caribbean staple.

This free pizza place is the perfect late-night stop when you need a bite to eat or are craving something warm and cheesy.

Although this venue is fun and convenient, I'm of the opinion that there's nothing special about the pizza itself.

The crust is thin, and the top develops a layer of oil.

I was riding in the elevator one night when I saw a boy holding a plate covered with napkins. 

When we asked why he had napkins over his food, he took them off to reveal a few slices of Sorrento's pizza.

"The pizza's too oily, so I'm tryna get it off," he said.

Sure enough, three of the napkins were soaked through with oil.

For the record, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley went on record to say his favorite food on Icon of the Seas was a slice of pepperoni pizza from Sorrento's.

Pros:

• Open late into the night
• Endless, yummy pizza

Cons:

• Can have long lines at certain times
• The pizza is very oily 

Expect a change in how you see Royal Caribbean prices in the future.

California's new consumer protection law will change how Royal Caribbean advertises its cruise fares in the United States going forward.

Beginning July 1, 2024, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises will include taxes and fees as part of the advertised price that were previously left out until the checkout process.

The California legislature passed the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) in 2023, and was signed into law by the Governor.

The change in the law is meant provide consumers with a clear price upfront, rather than leave them surprised by additional fees later on during the booking process.  By making it the same across the United States, Royal Caribbean feels it will reduce confusion, "Treating California differently than the rest of the United States could
have created confusion and introduced unnecessary complexity."

The change is simply meant to enhance transparency. It neither impacts the total price of the cruise nor the portion of the fare that's commissionable to travel agents.

Silversea Cruises will not need to make any changes, because its prices already include all required taxes, fees, and port expenses.

This change was sent in an email to travel agents by Royal Caribbean to inform them of the policy change that will impact both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. Carnival Corporation announced a similar change in April for its brands of cruise ships that include Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Cunard North America.

For example, if Royal Caribbean's website advertises a fare today that's $646, the fees will be broken disclosed and added to the total the final stage of the booking process. In this example, the Taxes and Fees amount to $201.48. 

The idea is to not surprise consumers at checkout, especially with some port fees amounting to hundreds of dollars per person. 

The changes take place as of July 1, 2024.

What are port fees?

Port fees are charges imposed by each port of call to allow the ship to dock, and these fees are passed on to passengers by the cruise line. Regardless of whether you're staying in a luxurious two-bedroom suite or a standard inside cabin, everyone onboard pays the same amount. 

Unlike gratuities, port fees are included in your total cruise fare and must be paid in full by the final payment deadline.

Typically, these fees are a combination of several charges, including the per-passenger (head tax) fee, docking fee, and pilot fee. The pilot fee covers the costs associated with the local harbor pilot who guides the cruise ship into port. The head tax helps offset the expenses of guests using local infrastructure. 

Lastly, the docking fee is what the local authorities charge the cruise line for the right to dock and for the services required.

No changes to commissions

Royal Caribbean also added that the calculation of your commissionable earnings will not be altered.

This means there's no change to how travel agents make money either.

A rare sight for a great deal of the population took place when the evening skies were illuminated by the northern lights over this past weekend.

The Aurora Borealis lights were able to be seen thanks to a G5 geomagnetic storm that made its way towards Earth.

The lights were seen across many latitudes, and even on cruise ships.

Just like people all over the world, our readers on cruise ships snapped photos of the lights and it was a dazzling view.

Here's a look at 8 of the best pictures captured by stargazers sailing on Royal Caribbean ships.

Ovation of the Seas

It's appropriate to start with a photo of the Aurora Borealis on a ship visiting Alaska.

This photo was taken on Ovation of the Seas during her Alaska sailing.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise guide

Brilliance of the Seas

This photo was taken on Brilliance of the Seas, and shows the "dancing" view the lights can take.

When a geomagnetic storm occurs, it's because high-energy particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetic field.

Usually, the northern lights are not visible at lower latitudes. Usually, you need to be in the "auroral zone," the area within an approximately 1,550-mile (2,500 kilometers) radius of the North Pole.

The lights were visible from a number of cruise ships, providing an incredible viewing opportunity since cruise ships are in the open ocean with no land to obstruct the view.

Solar storms happen when the sun shoots powerful explosions of highly energized and magnetic plasma called coronal mass ejections toward Earth.

The bright colors of the northern lights are dictated by the chemical composition of Earth's atmosphere. 

Some of the dominant colors seen in aurorae are red, a hue produced by the nitrogen molecules, and green, which is produced by oxygen molecules.

Quantum of the Seas

Another photo of the northern lights from Quantum of the Seas contrasts the lights with the beautiful Alaska scenery.

Anthem of the Seas

The Aurora Borealis is usually visible near the poles, but it's uncommon to see them in areas that are closer to the equator, which is why the lights were such a treat to be seen in other places over the weekend.

The lights were seen in parts of China, Europe and the United States.

Friday and Saturday's storms expanded sightings of the Southern Lights into New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina.

Grandeur of the Seas

The best viewing opportunities were Friday and Saturday, but experts say the effects of the geomagnetic storm started to pass.

Explorer of the Seas

Nick Weir is out at Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean announced a shakeup within its Entertainment division on Monday with the announcement of a new leader in the division.

Effective immediately, Christine Coachman is the Vice President, Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International.

She replaces Nick Weir, who has left the company after 10 years with the company.

A spokesperson wished Mr. Weir well, "We thank Nick for his contributions over the years and wish him all the best."

An internal announcement by Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Sean Treacy, confirmed the switch.

"Please join me in congratulating Christine Coachman on her new role as Vice President, Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, effective today," the announcement read.

"Drawing from nearly 35 years-experience at Royal Caribbean, Christi will now lead the team responsible for bringing to life the best entertainment at sea. She will oversee the cruise line’s onboard entertainment and guest activities programming, as well as Royal Caribbean Productions, the industry’s only in-house department that creates, produces and manages the largest entertainment operation at sea."

He added, "I am excited to work even more closely with Christi as we continue to lead the industry in innovating the entertainment experience at sea."

Mr. Weir has been at the helm of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean since 2013.

He joined Royal Caribbean with more than 25 years of experience in both the entertainment and cruise industries. He came from an entertainment family, with his mother an accomplished cruise entertainer and his father was a pioneering Cruise Director.

Prior to working with Royal Caribbean, he owned and operated an entertainment consulting company with projects that included television and live event production services, speech and script writing, entertainment program analysis and solution development, charity event/live auction production, corporate video production, cruise industry start-up projects and Cruise Director services.

Mr. Weir had been at the forefront of so many of Royal Caribbean's Entertainment projects. He had recently talked about a 10 year plan for the cruise line to incorporate robotics into more shows and guest experiences.

Meet Christine Coachman

Ms. Coachman takes over the Entertainment division, and brings plenty of experience to the role.

She began her career as a dancer and went on to perform in many shows, events and conventions around the world before she joined the Entertainment Department at Royal Caribbean. 

She has written, cast and produced numerous productions for the cruise line and was previously responsible for the daily operation of front and back of house on board for all Produced Entertainment, including the fully licensed Broadway and West End Musicals, Signature Theater Productions, World Class Ice Productions, Spectacular Aquatic Shows and Two70 shows. 

She also managed the line's extensive Entertainment Studios in North Miami. 

Nick Weir's legacy

Following his departure on Monday, Mr. Weir leaves behind a decade of industry changes.

His most recent accomplishments can be seen on Royal Caribbean's blockbuster Icon of the Seas, which features variety of new shows and venues.

With Icon, the AquaTheater was moved indoors and expanded within the new AquaDome neighborhood. Plus, the ice skating rink was converted from square to oval shaped.  In both cases, this was done to address performance needs and open up more possibilities.

Under Weir, Royal Caribbean developed a variety of original productions, such as Columbus the Musical, Effectors, Flight, Aqua 80s, and many more.

Mr. Weir also holds a few patents that are part of the Royal Caribbean cruise experience.

Weir is listed as a patent author for the eMuster process that allows guests to conduct much of the mandatory maritime safety drill digitally.

He also patented show elements, such as the Water-based Pyrotechnic Illusion.

He was also fascinated by drones, as is evident in their utilization in Royal Caribbean's latest shows, as well as for the recent re-launch of Spectrum of the Seas in Asia.

How does this change impact cruises for guests?

We don't have details yet on what the future of the Entertainment division will look like, but in the short term, don't expect any noticeable changes onboard.

Entertainment on ships sailing follows a set pattern, and shows rarely change on ships. The hiring of new casts, execution of productions in place now, and scheduling will all continue as normal.

It's also likely plans for getting all the shows on Icon of the Seas fully operational as well as the show line-up for Utopia of the Seas are in place already.

The earliest possibility for a shift could come with Star of the Seas next year, as well as notable ship overhauls.  Allure of the Seas is scheduled for a major refurbishment in 2025 and when sister ship Oasis of the Seas had similar work done, new shows were added at that time.

From a few dollars to hundreds, there are easy ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise if you know what to do.

While a Royal Caribbean cruise is largely considered an affordable vacation, the overall cost can go up quickly if you're not careful. You can avoid overspending by following some of the best money-saving tricks.

Users on the Royal Caribbean sub Reddit were asked to share all the ways they save money on Royal Caribbean, no matter how miniscule the difference.

Here are the 18 things you can do to save money on how to save money. We also have our list of Royal Caribbean tips and tricks that cover every aspect of a cruise. 

1. Stick to the free restaurants

One of the most repeated tips to save money on any Royal Caribbean cruise was to eat the restaurants included in your cruise fare.

Royal Caribbean offers restaurants that cost nothing extra to dine at, as well as restaurants that cost extra. The choice is yours, and a lot of cruises assume they need to eat at the specialty restaurants because of how much the cruise line advertises them.

Read more: How does Royal Caribbean dining work?

The reality is the food offered at the Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, and other spots are very good. There's certainly more than enough food to keep you satisfied, and considering how much the cruise fare costs up-front, it makes sense to lean heavily into the restaurants rather than spending more on additional restaurants.

Specialty restaurants can offer either higher quality food, or cuisines not otherwise available in the free restaurants.  But if you can avoid the temptation to dine at them, you could save a lot of money quite easily.

2. Book an inside room instead of a balcony or suite

Another super easy tip to save money is cut back on your cabin.

There are four basic types of staterooms on any cruise: inside, oceanview, balcony, and suites. Generally speaking, the price goes up as you move up to each category.

An inside room is going to almost certainly be the cheapest option, and it gets you everything you need without a hefty price.

No matter how much more moving up to a balcony would be, the money saved by staying in an inside cabin could be a real difference maker. Similar-reason-5200 wrote, "let's be honest you aren't spending much time in there," and there's a lot of truth to that statement.

Read more: Inside cabin vs. balcony room

There's so much happening around the ship and in the ports of call you visit, that a lot of times the cabin ends up being somewhere to sleep, shower, and change and then you're elsewhere.

TrekJaneway added, "I don’t really spend time in my room, so all I need is a place with a bed and a shower, and I’m good."

Read more: Where is the best place to stay on a cruise ship?

3. Don't be lured into buying jewelry or watches

A lot of people think the jewelry deals offered on the ship simply aren't great.

The Invicta watches are one notorious type of jewelry that some cruisers question the value of. You'll likely see lots of sales and advertisements on the ship for those and other pieces, and by not indulging, you could save a lot.

4. Bring your own over-the-counter medication

You never know if you'll catch a cold, eat something that doesn't agree with you, or get seasick, so be prepared.

JanieLFB shared her tip that she will buy a travel-sized options before the cruise begins, "I went to my local drugstore and bought small packets of generic drugs." This little trick could save you money considering how much Royal Caribbean charges for the same drugs onboard. 

It's a good idea to bring these essentials to keep in your cabin:

• Cold medicine
• Seasickness medication
• Headache medicine
• Sunburn treatment
• Upset stomach and diarrhea medicine

Bringing your own medication ensures you not only don't waste money on the same overpriced meds on the ship, but you also get the brand, dosage, and type of delivery method you prefer.

Read more: Ultimate cruise packing list

5. Skip a drink package

A lot of people on Reddit advocated not buying a Royal Caribbean drink package.

Similar to the argument about the food included, these people felt a drink package just costs too much money and the drinks included with the cruise are sufficient (assuming you don't want alcohol).

Some also felt the drink packages require too much drinking to "break even" on them, and you're better off paying for drinks you really want individually.

Read more: 6 alternatives to a Royal Caribbean drink package

And definitely don't try to cheat the drink package either.

6. Bring your own wine or champagne

One easy way to save money on alcohol on your cruise is to bring your own wine or champagne.

Royal Caribbean allows guests to bring one bottle of wine or champagne per adult on embarkation day.

You can also bring 12 bottles of non-alcoholic drinks per stateroom.

Read more: Food or drinks you're allowed to bring on a Royal Caribbean cruise

7. Wait until midnight on the first day to book a WiFi package

User Illustrious-Gur-6775 had a great way to get back about $20 on your internet package.

Instead of buying it for the entire cruise, wait until midnight on the first day and then activate it.  The rationale is you will be able to use your cellular connection until the ship leaves, and then it's only 7 hours until midnight. 

By waiting to midnight, you'll pay a pro-rated rate for the remainder of the cruise, minus day one.

8. Get free WiFi in port

Instead of buying Royal Caribbean's internet service, you could just find free WiFi spots in the ports you visit.

There's usually a bar, restaurant, or shop that advertises free WiFi while you're in that establishment, and it's good enough for checking your email, catching up on social media, and otherwise getting connected for a brief period.

If being online isn't a priority for you during your cruise, relying on free internet hotspots while in port could save you over a hundred dollars on Royal Caribbean's service.

Don't forget that you can still use the Royal Caribbean app without a WiFi package, including the chat feature.

9. Drink alcohol in port

Just like WiFi, booze are probably cheaper in port too.

It's not difficult to find bars in the ports your ship visit, and there's a good chance the price is going to be less than what Royal Caribbean offers, especially in the Caribbean.

You'll need to price it accordingly, but you might save money getting your drink on in port instead of buying drinks on the ship.

10. Order the drink of the day

Another way to save money on your bar bill is rely on the drink of the day special.

Every day there will be one cocktail that is $3 or $4 cheaper than usual. It's listed in the Cruise Compass, as well as noted on a sign in many bars.

If you're not picky about your drinks, the savings can add up quickly.

Read more: Drink prices on Royal Caribbean

11. Use any loyalty offers first

Even after just one cruise, Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society provides discount coupons you can use.  The catch is you have to remember to ask to use them.

Read more: 11 of our favorite under-the-radar Crown & Anchor perks

Each person gets an assortment of discounts they can use, such as half off a glass of wine, 25% off any coffee beverage, or discounts on Royal Caribbean logo merchandise.

You'll get a letter in your cabin with the exact list of offers each guests has. Then, you just need to ask the crew member at the bar, shop, or spa to redeem the discount when ordering.

Read more: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

12. Skip the casino

Another commonly cited way to save money is not risking any in the ship's casino.

The casino is a huge revenue maker for any cruise line, and while you could theoretically win money here, it's just easier to not go in and spend money there in the first place.

A few Reddit users said to skip the casino as an easy way to save money. You can't lose if you don't play.

13. Look for sales leading up to your cruise

While some of these tips advocate skipping the extra cost packages, if you do buy them, you'll want to re-price them again and again.

Royal Caribbean runs sales almost every day, so you should periodically check for new discounts.

14. Set a budget for each day while on vacation

One way to limit overspending while on your cruise is have a daily budget.

Reddit user tdybr07 shared one example, "For example: plan $100/day spending money per day including sea days. This helps you with spending money on the ship, (shops, casinos, specialty dining or whatever you decide) as well as in ports."

This is a smart method of ensuring you don't go "swipe happy" and come home after your cruise to a giant bill.

15. Prepay gratuities, beverage packages and excursions

This will allow you to get on the ship and know that you won’t be charged additional charges unless you make any purchases on the ship.

illuminated0ne wrote, "if you do buy anything from Royal Caribbean, make a note of the price and keep checking back. The prices change all the time, if you see it cheaper, you can just cancel and rebook for a savings."

There's no penalty for cancelling and rebooking a Cruise Planner purchase. It just requires you to take the time to double check the price.

16. Look for a good travel agent that has special rates

Some people think booking a cruise directly with Royal Caribbean will save them money, but they're so wrong.

A good travel agent has access to special rates and offers.  Plus, there's no cost to using a good travel agent because Royal Caribbean pays them a commission, not you.

I've lost count how many times I research the cruise I want to book and then contact my travel agent to book, only to be told by them they have a better rate, thanks to a group rate.

wholefvno added to anyone that didn't love their first travel agent, "Travel agents cost nothing and can give you a more personalized experience and good advice. If you had a bad experience, try another one. Some are good at customer service, some are bad."

17. Cruise in the off-season

If you can book a cruise during the shoulder season, you will save so much money compared to peak season.  It's one of the top tips offered on Reddit to get a cheaper cruise.

Jane_Marie_CA wrote to try booking a cruise, "Far away from school breaks and holidays," as a strategy to get lower prices.

As an example, her April 28 sailing on Harmony of the Seas was $2,000 cheaper than the same cruise in summer.

Royal Caribbean’s off-season prices can typically be found during these dates:

• January (excluding MLK weekend)
• February (excluding President’s Day weekend)
• May
• September
• October
• First two weeks of November
• First two weeks of December

Of course, the downside to off-season is there's a reason it's less popular. It could be because it's in the middle of hurricane season or during a month prone to colder temperatures.

18. You don't have to get off the ship in port

Don't feel obliged to get off the ship and spend money on a shore excursion that doesn't excite you.

"If I don't see an excursion that excites me, I don't spend the money," wrote Jane_Marie_CA.

Not only will you save money by not paying for a tour, but you'll get to enjoy a relatively emptier ship while others are in port.

Read more: 5 best reasons to stay onboard the ship while in Perfect Day at CocoCay

Happy Mothers Day! All the moms out there deserve a big hug, thank you, and hopefully a new cruise booking too.

The next new Royal Caribbean cruise ship is on her way to completion.

Utopia of the Seas began her sea trials this week, which is a major milestone in the construction of any cruise ship.

On May 7, Utopia of the Seas departed from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in France for a 5-day sea trial during which the ship will sail more than 1,000 miles. 

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean Slashes Prices on Icon of the Seas' New Ropes Course by Almost 75%
• Royal Caribbean will hire 10,000 workers this year to meet booming demand
• I tried the Miami hotel everyone says is the best pre-cruise option. It was comfortable, but my stay had some issues
• I went on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship and saw why the surging hype is real
• Empty cruise ship is sailing without passengers and it's a more relaxed atmosphere for crew members
• I spent $2800 for 7 nights in a 157-square-foot room on the world's largest cruise ship. Take a look inside my tiny cabin
• I got to blow this cruise ship's horn on Odyssey of the Seas. Here's how I did it.
• Can you upgrade your room after final payment on my cruise?

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 533rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available!

With a special guest, Emma, we discuss how to approach planning a European cruise for the first time.

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.

10 Fun Royal Caribbean upgrades under $50!

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 — 10 Fun Royal Caribbean upgrades under $50! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Simple tips to safely take a cruise ship shore excursion

How can you stay safe while trying a new tour in a foreign location?

Royal Caribbean cruises take you to fascinating ports of call, but it still takes preparation and an alert awareness to protect yourself.

Here are some extra tips before your next cruise ship shore excursion.

9 easy ways to save money on a European cruise

A cruise to Europe could be cheaper than you'd think.

With these easy ways to save money on your cruise, you can customize your experiences for any budget.

European cruises don't have to break the bank, and a few adjustments, there are countless ways to save money.

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

Calista recently sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, but she noticed it takes some adjustment from everyone.

To make the most of your cruise on the world's largest vessel, it's important to prepare and learn from others' mistakes.

From what to pack to how to use the elevators, here are 6 mistakes you shouldn't make.

Royal Caribbean saved a passenger's life

Crew members on Ovation of the Seas saved a passenger's life after he had a cardiac arrest.

Thanks to the swift response of crew members, they successfully stabilized the patient and coordinated with the US Air Force for a medical evacuation via helicopter.

The passenger's daughter posted her thanks to the medical professionals, saying she is "in awe" of Royal Caribbean's response.

Can you change or upgrade your room on a Royal Caribbean cruise if you're past the final payment date?

It seems as though when you reach the final payment date for your sailing, everything is more or less "written in stone" for the purposes of your reservation. You'd incur penalties for changing or cancelling your cruise reservation, but are you definitely stuck with the cabin selection you've made?

There's plenty of reasons why you'd want to change cabins, such as wanting to splurge for a bigger cabin.  Or perhaps you changed your mind about the room location or general category.

On one cruise I took, I had booked our family in a standard balcony cabin and then a few months later, I got a bonus at work and wanted to take advantage of the cash flow by getting a nicer room.

There are a few recourses you have if you're past final payment and want to change cabins, but they are limited.

Bid for a cabin upgrade

Royal Caribbean offers a way to upgrade your cruise ship cabin by bidding for it.

The RoyalUp program offers the option to place a bid for select cabins that cost more than what you have already booked. 

It's a blind bidding program, which means you place a bid based on a range of possible prices.  You don't know what anyone else bid, nor if there are actually any cabins available to upgrade to. Royal Caribbean uses RoyalUp to net additional revenue from passengers willing to spend more than they had already, as well as fill cabins that are cancelled at the last-minute.

Read more: RoyalUp tips & tricks

Once you make a bid, it's binding if your bid was selected by the cruise line. You can always withdraw the bid before a decision is made, but if Royal Caribbean approves it, you're locked in.

Moreover, you have no choice in the new cabin location you're upgrading to.

The best thing about RoyalUp is it's easy to do, you can place a bid right up to the last few days before the cruise begins, and some people really do get a great deal on a cabin upgrade.

The downside to bidding for a cabin upgrade is it's all a guessing game as to what to bid, or if there's actually any cabins to move up to. 

In my experience, there is no rhyme or reason what to bid to win an upgrade.

There's one other catch with RoyalUp, and that is if you booked a standard cabin and win the bid to move up to a suite, you won't get double Crown and Anchor Society points.

Call and upgrade your cabin

While not as exciting as placing a bid, you can still upgrade your cabin after final payment date (assuming there's an available cabin left).

While Royal Caribbean makes it seem like you cannot change your reservation once you reach final payment date, in practice, they will usually allow an upgrade past the final payment date if you're willing to spend more money.

What most people do in this scenario is they go to the Royal Caribbean website and make a mock booking to see which staterooms are still unsold.  If there's one that looks good, you can then back out of the booking process and contact the cruise line to upgrade to it.

If the higher category cabin is the same price or cheaper than you paid, you can move up to it for no additional cost.

The easiest way to conduct a cabin upgrade in this manner is to use your travel agent to make it all happen.

Prices for Royal Caribbean cruises fluctuate all the time, even after final payment date.  In some cases, there can be a nominal extra cost to move your room up after the final payment date.  This is sometimes because other guests cancelled their reservation at the final payment date, which created a surplus of cabin inventory.

One thing to keep in mind is there are absolutely no refunds or any money back. Even if you upgrade to a bigger cabin and the cost is less than you paid originally, you won't be able to get money back once you're past final payment date. 

In addition, upgrading in this manner may cost you substantially more. Last-minute rates can often be quite high compared to booking a cruise many months before the sail date.

You should also be aware by upgrading, you may lose any booking incentives given at time of original booking, and have to go with current promotion.

Of course, this option depends on there being unsold cabins left. In many cases, a sailing will be completely sold out in the final weeks prior to the sailing. Nearly all cruises sail completely full.

The real advantage to upgrading in this manner instead of RoyalUp is it's straightforward and there's no guessing if you'll be able to upgrade or not. On the other hand, bidding might be cheaper.

Bottom line

Yes, you can pay to upgrade your room even after the final payment date, but there are a few catches.

The easiest option is to call and upgrade your room to a higher category. You will be subject to the prevailing rate for the cabin you want to upgrade to, and sometimes it’s minimal, some time it’s a lot more.

You are definitely not able to cancel, get a refund, or downgrade your cabin without incurring penalties.

Alternatively, you try for a cabin upgrade by bidding for it.  There's no telling what anyone else already bid, or if there's even a room to upgrade to.  But bidding for a better cabin is simple, and you'll probably pay less if your bid actually wins.

Which option is best? The choice depends on your appetite for luck, and how much of a budget you have to spend on a bigger cabin.

You've probably heard lots about Icon of the Seas by now, but what makes the ship so highly celebrated?

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship this month on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing.

I wanted to see exactly why this ship has been so hyped over the past few months, and if all the praise is deserved.

Initially, I expected the ship to feel like a bigger version of an Oasis-Class ship, with tons of amenities and huge crowds.

Other than knowing about the ship's size and focus on providing a fun experience for younger families, I didn't know what to expect.

But by the end of the sailing, I think I was just as impressed as everyone else. Icon of the Seas felt more like a mix between an Oasis-Class and a Quantum-Class ship.

Yes, she's big, but the vessel has more to offer than just size.

From the moment you step on board, it's evident that Royal Caribbean wanted to improve upon previous problems while creating an entirely new class of ship.

Read more: 14 improvements Royal Caribbean developed just for Icon of the Seas

What justifies all the hype around this ship is that the improvements and new ideas are well-designed, well-executed, and extremely celebrated throughout your time onboard.

The size makes you feel like you're not on a cruise ship at all

Of course, Icon's size cannot be overlooked.

Since the vessel debuted, I've seen graphics and photos of how large the ship is. However, it's hard to comprehend once you're onboard.

Especially with the wide-open public spaces, it hardly feels like you're on a cruise ship.

Icon of the Seas feels more like a small city.

Part of her novelty is that you can almost forget you're floating in the ocean (until you glance outside, that is).

I think Royal Caribbean wanted to lean into this aspect because, at the beginning of the cruise, they announced that there wouldn't be any daily event announcements or updates from the captain.

Without a direct connection to the bridge, the ship felt less like a cruise ship and more like a theme park.

I won't say that everyone will enjoy this aspect, but it made for a unique and interesting experience that you can't get anywhere else.

Read more: First look Inside the World's Biggest Cruise Marvel, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

The ship's design is the perfect mix of elegant and fun

When I first walked up the gangway, and onto deck 5, I was immediately struck by the bright colors and cheerful style of decoration.

This is most evident in Surfside neighborhood, an area focused on families with young kids that pops with neon colors and bright pinks and blues.

However, all areas around the cruise ships are filled with these vibrant colors.

I even mentioned it to our stateroom attendant, and she agreed.

"It's so cheerful!"

However, the playful colors were combined with elegant designs onboard.

For example, art pieces were in every corner of the ship.

The Pearl brought a smooth, graceful atmosphere to the Royal Promenade.

The entire design of the ship, from decorations to layout to art pieces, perfectly mixed the vibe of young and old, fun and elegant.

Read more: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest ship. It was a giant party, but not everything was totally ready

Extra space, stairs, and seating helped move crowds along

The biggest difference I noticed from other large Royal Caribbean ships I've sailed on was the lack of crowds.

Of course, you could still tell there were a large amount of people onboard. But the ship's layout ensured that no one would ever be squished into one place, and we never ran into any traffic jams.

I noticed that high-traffic areas, like the Royal Promenade and the Windjammer, were built a little wider than usual, helping to create space for a large amount of people.

There was also a ton of seating everywhere on the ship, so everyone found a place to sit and rest.

I also really liked the large amount of central staircases onboard, such as in the Royal Promenade, going up to Central Park, or down to Surfside neighborhood.

Lastly, the destination elevators helped to alleviate crowds as well.

These all helped to ease foot traffic and calm crowds.

The ship was intentionally celebrated

Excitement is contagious, and I think that's another part of why Icon has been so heavily hyped.

Even though it's been a few months since the ship's inaugural sailing, crew members and cruisers were still extremely excited about being onboard.

Wherever we went, staff welcomed us, saying: "Have an Iconic cruise!"

My cruise embarked the day after Royal Caribbean's partnership with Hard Rock Casinos was announced, so we were greeted at the port with live music, dancers, and free T-shirts!

Throughout the cruise, I saw everyone wearing their "Hard Rock 'n' Royal" T-shirts. A common uniform is a great way to build camaraderie, so this move also added to the energy onboard.

Not only that but on night one, the ship's cruise director, Gemma Hugo, made a speech to everyone gathered on the Royal Promenade for the balloon drop.

She made everyone solemnly swear to have fun and eat tons of food while onboard.

Such intentionality and care lends itself to an infectious air of excitement.

A focus on families with young children creates a playful atmosphere

Even as someone who doesn't have kids, I could tell that Icon of the Seas was the perfect ship for families with young children.

A lot of fun areas focused on families with young kids, like the Surfside neighborhood, water slides, and even a playground on deck 15.

Icon of the Seas provides an awesome family experience, and I could tell when I was onboard.

Kids were included in tons of events onboard, like silent discos or being allowed to compete in trivia games.

One night in the Main Dining Room, I saw a waiter bring two kids a lobster folded out of dinner napkins! They were overjoyed.

I loved how much kids were included in the fun onboard—it lent a vibrant, playful atmosphere to the cruise.

Seeing babies dance at the silent parties and children sing at "finish the lyric" challenges genuinely warmed my heart.