Royal Caribbean Blog

Are you looking for a classy, quiet experience at Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room?

Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room is a complimentary venue that serves formal, elegant meals two to three times a day.

It's become a staple of the cruise dining experience and a delicious meal that many cruise fans look forward to.

But you may not be eating alone.

You could be assigned to a table with other guests in the Main Dining Room.

Royal Caribbean tends to assign multiple parties to a table, especially if you’re traveling with a smaller party, such as a couple. 

To conserve dining space, waitstaff often assign multiple groups together at larger tables.

Without proper preparation, first-time cruisers could be met with a disappointing surprise when they come to dinner and find several strangers eating with them.

Being seated with another party can feel like a jarring end to the sophisticated evening you were expecting.

If dining alone is a priority for you, here’s how you can request a table for two.

Read more: How Royal Caribbean's Main Dining Room works and what to expect

How do table assignments work?

Royal Caribbean seats guests according to their availability. 

With the right timing and request, you can ensure that you snag a table for just two.

Royal Caribbean has table sizes for two, four, six, eight, and ten people. 

At those larger tables, the Main Dining Room staff do their best to seat groups together that might have something in common. 

For example, couples could expect to be sat with other couples. Or families with younger kids may find themselves with other families with children.

There’s nothing scary about being seated with another group; your parties will dine and converse, working together to have a lovely evening. 

Just make sure to keep the conversation light and fun! Steer the chat away from controversial topics, and remember that everyone is there to enjoy their meal and have a lovely cruise.

But, there are plenty of valid reasons why you might prefer to be seated alone.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion, feeling more introverted, or just don’t want to be focused on your partner during your dinner, you can request to be seated at a table for two for all your meals. 

Just remember that if you don’t specifically request it, you will likely be seated at a larger table with others.

Traditional Dining

When you first book your cruise, you’ll have two options for when you eat your Main Dining Room dinner: traditional dining or My Time Dining.

Read more: Royal Caribbean My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

These times determine when you go to dinner, and you’ll want to choose your selection carefully! You won’t be able to change it after the second day of your cruise.

Traditional dining gives you an assigned table at one of three times: 5:30 P.M., 6:45 P.M., or 8:00 P.M.

The exact times will vary according to your cruise’s itinerary, but you can select one of those three dinner times. 

Once you make your choice, you’ll be assigned to a consistent table and team of waiters each night.

If you’d like to secure a table for just two people before your cruise, you can make a request through email.

Simply contact [email protected] about 2-3 weeks before your cruise and ask for a smaller table for just your party.

If this doesn’t work, or you change your mind, you can still make your request once onboard.

Go to the Main Dining room and ask to speak to a head waiter, letting them know that you’d like a table for two.

The Main Dining Room’s waitstaff is extremely accommodating, and they will do their best to fulfill your request. 

Even if you end up being assigned to a larger table, the other parties may not join you, and waiters can move your group to a smaller table.

The good news is that, with traditional dining, you’ll sit at the same table every night. 

Once you make your original request, your group will be set at its own table.

My Time Dining

My Time Dining is a more flexible schedule for dinner. Instead of being assigned a specific time, you have a first-come, first-served option.

Usually, dinnertime runs between 6:00 and 9:30 P.M., and you will be seated when and where the waitstaff and kitchen are ready to serve you.

You can make a dinner reservation ahead of time in the Cruise Planner or Royal Caribbean app. 

If you choose to wait until you get onboard, you can go directly to the Main Dining Room and a head waiter will be happy to assist you. 

When you make your reservations with them, you can request a table for two.

Be sure that you make this in-person request as soon as you get onboard because reservations fill up quickly.

The benefit of making a reservation ahead of time is that you’ll have to wait less to get a table (up to 15 minutes).

However, you’re not required to make a reservation ahead of time. If you choose to, you can simply show up to the Main Dining Room whenever you feel like eating.

If you do not make any reservations, you might end up waiting up to 45 minutes at peak times.

While waiting to be seated, you can request a small table for your party. But many tables will likely be full at this point.

Usually, they will seat you at whatever tables are most quickly available, so just be patient if they can’t fulfill your request right away!

Seating your larger group together

Looking for special seating for a group larger than just two?

You can still request to dine together, instead of being seated with other parties.

If you’ve selected traditional dining, you can request a table allocation 50 days before the sailing. Your group leader can even assign the seats specifically.

However, Royal Caribbean’s website states that if you’ve selected My Time dining, there is no guarantee that your group will be seated together.

Robotics is seen as the future for many functions, including cruise ships.

An evening show on a cruise is as synonymous with the industry as the buffet or the ports of call visited. Royal Caribbean sees the future of entertainment with robots as integral to the show as the performers.

Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Entertainment Nick Weir has not only been the head of Royal Caribbean's productions for decades, but he has been an early adopter of robots to augment the show experience.

Robotics offer a way to bring show elements previously impossible, or requiring a great deal of man power to accomplish.

Mr. Weir shared on Twitter that Royal Caribbean has, "a ten year program" for robotics.

While we don't have yet a clear indication of what robots the future holds, it's clear the line is deeply invested in iterating robot technology and opportunities with each new ship.

A foothold in robotics

Royal Caribbean's love affair with robots started with the Quantum Class ships that first launched in 2014.

At the time, Quantum of the Seas was referred to as an innovative new kind of ship, with plenty of tech to go with the robots. There were virtual balcony cabins, high-speed internet access (relative to the time), a new app, and wearable wristbands.

Robots were part of a big that tech push with Quantum. There were robot bartenders, robots in the theater, and even a robotic arm to take guests high above the ship.

The first glimpse passengers got of robots on Quantum was at the Bionic Bar, where robot bartenders take drink orders via tablets located around the bar. 

Passengers then watch as their drinks are prepared by the robot. The robotic arms draw liquor from dozens of bottles hanging from above, and are programmed to add just the right amount of mixers, ice and even lemons and mint. They can even shake the drink to mix it.

Bionic Bar would make its way onto a number of other cruise ships around the fleet, becoming a spectacle for anyone that walked by.

The other massive robotic presence on Quantum was in the Two70 venue, and this clearly resonated the most with Mr. Weir, as robots in theaters continue to appear in the line's latest ships.

On Quantum, robotic entertainment took to the stage with its Roboscreens. Partnering with ABB Robotics, Royal Caribbean utilized a handful of robot arms with screens attached to them to tell the stories in the new Two70 venue.

According to Royal Caribbean, it was the most complex robotics project that was happening outside of Mars.

An Iconic step forward

Robots on Quantum Class ships continued, and it took another step forward on Icon of the Seas.

The Aquadome is not only a new neighborhood, but also the first Aquatheater to incorporate robots into the show.

Combining the AquaTheater from Oasis Class ships with the roboscreens of Quantum Class, you get the next generation of robotics in a show. The idea was to create the greatest canvas to do entertainment on to date.

The six-axis robot arms in the Aquatheater are in the stage area on Icon had never been done before. When ready, the robot arms will be able to pick up the skate boarding half pipe during the show as part of the experience.

Not only does this tech allow for great stunts, developing this tech also allows them to build all sorts of heavy equipment for stage use.

Robots can recreate any sense of forced-motion and direction. One idea is to put a platform on a robot arm, so instead of having a spring board, divers can use the robot arm to be propelled. It's an idea Royal Caribbean has patented.

"Huge plans for robotics"

This ten year plan is to continue the advancement of robots in the shows you find on Royal Caribbean's next batch of new cruise ships.

Mr. Weir tweeted that they're making better progress than originally anticipated, "It’s going really well so far, we are in advance of schedule. Already adding concepts that were destined for Star of the Seas to Aqua Action on Icon."

One idea is what he calls, "Robolights", and they are being prepared on Icon of the Seas. Instead of a screen, the arms have lights on them to help control the lighting precisely to what the performers need.

"The Robolights™️ preparing themselves for a performance (literally) and a clip of them doing their thing in the actual show. "

"Theater World, meet Robot World… a natural partnership."

He shared concept art for what he calls, "robotic fountain system" that appears to be able to spray multiple streams of water from each arm.

Those cruising out of Port Canaveral will soon be able to rely on another form of transportation, as Brightline announced that they're planning on opening a new station in Cocoa Beach. Last week, the Cocoa City Council voted to designate $5 million for the new station.

Brightline recently opened up a new station at the Orlando International Airport (MCO), making it easier for those commuting from Central to South Florida for sailings from Fort Lauderdale and Miami. It was a wise move, as MCO is the busiest airport in Florida, seeing around 44 million passengers annually. 

Despite the influx of passengers, Brightline doesn't have a station in Brevard County. Those heading from Orlando to Port Canaveral have to rely on other forms of transportation, such as rental cars, rideshares, or shuttles. 

Brightline began operations in 2018 with stops in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Now, however, they've expanded to Boca Raton, Aventura, and, of course, Orlando, covering 235 miles. 

At the time of writing, there's no timeline as to when the Cocoa Beach station could open. However, according to City of Cocoa Mayor Michel C. Blake, the City of Cocoa has met with company executives and is ready to move forward with negotiations for a station located near State Road 528 and US 1. 

The drive from Orlando International Airport to Cocoa Beach takes about an hour. While not long, a new Brightline station will allow those embarking on a cruise from Port Canaveral to choose another transportation option. 

Brightline Director of Public Affairs Katie Mitzner said, “Brightline is ready to begin the formal process with Space Coast stakeholders to fulfill our vision for a Brevard County station. We agree the time is now to finalize a plan.”

Read more: I took the Brightline train from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale for my cruise. Here's what it was like

Brightline has seen an increase in ridership of over 100% this year

Additionally, they estimate that they'll see around 4.3 million passengers annually between South Florida and Orlando by 2025. 

A stop in Cocoa Beach makes sense, especially considering this is the area in which the trains slow down to transition from the East/West track to the North/South track. 

The maximum speed for Brightline trains from Orlando International Airport to Cocoa is 125mph. Between Cocoa and West Balm Beach, the speed maxes out around 110mph, while the train substantially decreases to around 79mph between West Palm Beach and Miami. 

Brightline is also building a new station in Stuart 

In March, Brightline announced that Martin Country, specifically the City of Stuart, would be the site for their next station. 

The company reviewed five proposals from both private and public landowners along the Brightline/Florida East Coast Railway corridor. They, however, ultimately decided on Stuart due to its location, as well as the physical characteristics of the site.

The new station is estimated to cost around $60 million and will open in early 2028. 

Ships sailing from Port Canaveral

Royal Caribbean, along with numerous other cruise lines, sail from Port Canaveral. A total of 8 Royal ships will sail from Port Canaveral between now and April 2026. 

In July, Royal's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, will begin offering 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas. While not the largest ship in the world, guests can find various offerings unavailable on other Oasis Class ships, including the Royal Railway - Utopia Station specialty restaurant and Pesky Parrott bar. 

Additionally, upon Star of the Seas' debut in August 2025, the brand-new ship will sail from Port Canaveral to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

Other ships include Adventure, Explorer, Allure, Mariner, Voyager, and Wonder of the Seas. Sailings range in duration from 3-night Bahamas cruises to 13-night Transatlantic voyages. 

Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, having the right items in your luggage can make or break your cruising experience. If this is your first time cruising, you might also be wondering what exactly you should pack to use in your cruise cabin.

With limited luggage space, you want to ensure you’ve only packed the essentials that you need for a great cruise. This is especially true for guests who need to fly to the cruise port with checked luggage. In fact, most of the major airlines in the U.S. have just recently increased baggage fees for checked luggage.

With this in mind, it’s crucial to be strategic with packing for your cruise. You’ll want to be prepared for all of the cruise adventures - or unexpected challenges - that come your way. With the right items, you’ll be well-equipped for an incredible vacation at sea.

Regardless of your particular sailing, you’ll be staying in a cabin onboard your cruise ship. From a windowless interior cabin to spacious suites, there are some quirky aspects of cruising that differentiate this vacation from staying in a standard hotel room or all-inclusive resort.

Most cabins on a cruise ship are smaller and more compact than most hotel rooms. While you will be provided with the basics in your cabin, packing some of these essential items on our list will elevate your cruising experience.

Here is our list of 21 cruise cabin essentials that everyone should pack for their vacation. Some of these items are my personal favorites while others come highly recommended by other cruisers as cabin essentials.

Please note, the affiliate links to the products below provide a commission to our blog, which helps support our site. Purchasing from these links below will cost you nothing extra. You can also visit our Amazon storefront to see the cruising products and cabin essentials we recommend.

1. USB Outlet Extender

If you’ve never sailed in a cruise cabin before, you might be surprised to find that staterooms are often limited when it comes to power outlets. Older cruise ships in particular have very limited outlets for charging devices. Some cruise ships will only have one or two outlets available for the entire cabin to share.

Because of this, packing some sort of power extender is crucial. This will allow you and your travel party to charge or power all of your devices. Packing one of these USB outlet extenders with multiple outlets and charging ports will save you a massive headache in your cabin. I also pack a European travel plug adapter since most cabins will have a European outlet in the stateroom.

Cruise Power Strip No Surge Protector with USB Outlets - Ship Approved (Non Surge Protection) Cruise Essentials in 2024 & 2025 (White) Price: $16.99

[2-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, VINTAR International Power Plug Adapter with 1 USB C, 2 American Outlets and 3 USB Ports, 6 in 1 Travel Essentials to Most of Europe Greece, Italy(Type C) Price: $19.99

2. Magnetic Hooks

One of the most popular essential items to pack for your cruise cabin is a set of magnetic hooks. The walls of your cruise cabin are metal, which allows you to use anything magnetized on the walls.

With cruise cabins also being compact, it’s important to utilize your storage space. Those traveling with multiple people in a stateroom - or on a longer itinerary that requires more luggage - will need to optimize the closets, drawers and shelving for storage.

Cruisers go crazy for magnetic hooks as an essential packing item. While you will have plenty of storage for your belongings, these magnetic hooks allow you to hang your items from the wall.

Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks, 27lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Curtain, Grill(Silver, Pack of 6) Price: $5.99

3. Medication

No one wants to think about the possibility of getting sick during your hard-earned and highly-anticipated vacation. Unfortunately, illness can strike anywhere. If you’re on a cruise, you’ll need to rely on the ship’s onboard shops for any over-the-counter medication needs. As you can imagine, these are astronomically priced and limited in selection.

One essential cabin item is a small supply of over-the-counter medication. I call this my mini pharmacy! Inside, I have medication for multi-symptom day and night cold, anti-nausea medication, pain relief, allergies, laxatives, anti-diarrhea and more.

Additionally, if you have prescription medication, you should always cruise with extra in your cabin. If your cruise is delayed for some reason, such as unexpected weather or medical emergencies, you won’t want to be without your prescription medication. The onboard medical center might be able to help in these instances, but it’s best to be prepared for the worst.

4. Small Fan

Another wildly popular cruise cabin essential is a small fan to use in your stateroom. Although your cabin will have air conditioning, guests rave about bringing a portable fan to use in the evenings. Keeping the fan running in the night allows the cabin’s air to flow better - and also provides a soothing sound for those that sleep with a fan at home.

It’s best to bring a fan that is battery operated if you’re worried about the number of outlets available in the cabin. Otherwise, a plug-in fan will work as well. Some cruisers prefer to have a fan with adjustable legs that can be placed throughout the cabin.

Snawowo Mini Handheld Personal Portable Fan, Baby Stroller Fan, Car Seat Fan, USB or Battery Powered, with Flexible Tripod Clip on Student Bed Desk Bike Crib Treadmill Camping Traveling(Dark Blue) Price: $19.99 

Gaiatop USB Desk Fan, 3 Speeds with Strong Airflow, 5.5 Inch Quiet Small Portable Table Fan, 90° Rotate Personal Cooling Fan For Bedroom Home Office Desktop Travel (Black) Price: $8.99

5. Packing Cubes

Along with most cruisers, I am a huge fan of packing cubes. Packing cubes allow you to neatly organize your clothes while also compressing items when zipped. Not only do these simplify the packing experience itself, but packing cubes are also a huge help when organizing your cabin.

Once onboard your cruise, you will receive your luggage delivered directly to your stateroom. I prefer to unpack my suitcase right away in my cruise cabin to feel settled and organized. Packing cubes make this a seamless experience. I simply remove the packing cubes from my suitcase and place the cube directly in a drawer or shelf in my stateroom.

Veken 8 Set Packing Cubes for Suitcases, Travel Essentials for Carry on, Black Luggage Organizer Bags Set for Travel Accessories in 4 Sizes (Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small) Price: $16.98 

6. Insulated Coffee Mug

While it’s common knowledge to travel with a reusable water bottle, some cruisers swear by bringing their own insulted coffee mug or thermos aboard. This allows you to bring back hot coffee from the buffet, coffee shop or restaurants down to your cruise cabin.

Coffee cups are available on cruise ships for guests to use. But, it can be hard to walk around the ship with a cup of hot coffee. Cruisers sailing on itineraries to cooler environments might be especially interested in purchasing a travel coffee mug for keeping coffee, tea or hot chocolate warm.

SUNWILL 14 oz Coffee Mug, Vacuum Insulated Camping Mug with Lid, Double Wall Stainless Steel Travel Tumbler Cup, Coffee Thermos Outdoor, Powder Coated Navy Blue Price: $9.99 

7. Wrinkle release spray

Cruise ships do not allow guests to bring any steamers or irons in their cabins for fire safety purposes. Instead, you’ll have to get a little creative treating those wrinkly clothes. Many cruise guests bring a small bottle of wrinkle release spray to keep in their cruise cabin to combat wrinkly clothes.

With just a few sprays, wrinkles can be quickly and conveniently removed from your clothes. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s easy and cheap enough. Regardless, you won’t be the only one onboard with wrinkly clothes!

Downy Wrinkle Releaser, Odor Eliminator and Fabric Refresher, Crisp Linen Scent, Travel Essential, 3 Fl OZ (Pack of 2) Price: $7.99 

8. Liquid hand soap

Keeping yourself healthy on a cruise should be a top priority. It’s important to wash your hands frequently throughout your cruise. Most cruise ships only provide a bar of soap in your cruise cabin for hand washing.

This bar of soap is totally useable, but I prefer to pack a small bottle of liquid hand soap to use in my cabin. I find that my hands feel cleaner when I use liquid hand soap in the cabin bathroom. It’s also just easier, in my opinion.

Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap, Fresh Breeze - 7.5 Fl Oz (Pack of 6) Price: $7.35 

9. Electronics organizer

Organization is key for keeping your sanity in a cruise cabin. It’s easy for the cabin to feel cluttered given how small the space is. Because of this, I bring an electronics organizer for not only traveling, but to use within my cruise cabin.

If you’re someone with multiple devices that need to be charged, you are no stranger to the overwhelming ball of intertwined charging cords. I finally was fed up with having cords all over the cabin vanity, so I invested in an electronics organizer. This has been a game changer for me!

Electronic Organizer Travel USB Cable Accessories Bag/Case,Waterproof for Power Bank,Charging Cords,Chargers,Mouse ,Earphones Flash Drive Price: $8.99 

10. Hanging cosmetics bag

In the spirit of organization, another cabin essential is a hanging cosmetics bag. I’ve been cruising and traveling with a hanging cosmetic bags for more than a decade. These hang perfectly on the back of your cabin bathroom door so it’s not in the way for anyone.

Similar to the rest of your cabin, your stateroom’s bathroom will be compact. While there will be shelving and storage, this area can also get cluttered quickly. It’s so easy to travel and cruise with a hanging cosmetics bag. Highly recommend!

BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Travel Bag with Hanging Hook, Water-resistant Makeup Cosmetic Bag Travel Organizer for Accessories, Shampoo, Full-size Container, Toiletries Price: $22.39 

11. Air Freshener

One of the best parts of a cruise is all of the delicious food you’ll be enjoying. But, all of that food has to go somewhere. If you’re worried about having a stinky space, many cruisers recommend bringing a cheap air freshener to keep in your bathroom.

While you have many options for something like this, an old-fashioned car freshener can work best - like the ones that hang from your rearview mirror. Many cruisers swear by an air freshener in their cabin bathroom to facilitate a fresh smelling stateroom. At the end of the cruise, just toss it in the trash.

LITTLE TREES Car Air Freshener | Hanging Paper Tree for Home or Car | Vanillaroma Scent | Pack of 12 Price: $11.92 

12. Lanyard with key holder

When cruising with Royal Caribbean, you’ll need to keep close tabs on your SeaPass card. This is your onboard key that will allow you to enter your cabin and charge your onboard account, along with embarking and disembarking the ship at port stops. Without your SeaPass, you won’t be able to get very far.

One of the most popular cursing essential is a lanyard with a key holder. Keeping your SeaPass on a lanyard helps you to easily and quickly locate your card. I prefer to use a magnetic hook and hang my lanyard on this hook while I am in my cabin.

Cruise Lanyard Must Have Accessories for Ship Cards [2-Pack] in 2024 & 2025 Cruise Lanyards with ID Holder, Key Card Detachable Badge & Waterproof Ship Card Holders (Navy Blue & White) Price: $8.97 

13. Shampoo and Conditioner

Royal Caribbean only provides guests with a 3-in-1 showering product. This is advertised as a shampoo and body wash hybrid. Because of this, packing your own shampoo and conditioner is essential. This is especially important for the ladies out there!

I prefer to purchase travel sized shampoo and conditioner, but you can also fill up reusable bottles with products from home. This makes the cabin experience much better - or else you can expect to have pretty dry hair throughout your cruise.

TRESemmé Shampoo & Conditioner, Sulfate-Free, Travel Size - Moisture Rich Hair Treatment for Dry, Damaged Hair, Mini Shampoo & Conditioner for Hair Repair, Scented, 3 Oz Ea (2 Piece Set) Price: $8.97 

14. Hydration packets

Between all of the eating and drinking onboard your cruise, you might start to feel dehydrated. This is especially true if you are spending extra time in the sun, whether this is on the pool deck or ashore on the beach.

At the end of the day, staying hydrated is very important while cruising. Another popular essential for your cruise cabin is packing some liquid hydration packets that you can add to your water. I prefer LiquidIV or Propel packets because they are small and travel well. I also find that it replenishes my electrolytes quickly so I can get back to the pool deck!

Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier - Passion Fruit - Hydration Powder Packets | Electrolyte Drink Mix | Easy Open Single-Serving Sticks | Non-GMO | 1 Pack (16 Servings) Price: $24.13

15. Portable white noise machine

One of the newest essential items that I bring on my cruises is a portable white noise machine. This allows me to sleep soundly without hearing all the ruckus of the cruise ship in the evening.

Whether this is the anchor early in the morning or rowdy passengers stumbling down the hallway, the sound machine helps to drown out the noise. This portable sound machine is powerful and the perfect size for travel. Now, I won’t cruise without it!

White Noise Machine Babelio Mini Sound Machine for Adults Kids Baby | 15 Non-looping Sounds | Timer | Easy to Pocket and Travel - White Price: $15.99 

16. Pop-up hamper

During your cruise, you might be surprised how quickly the dirty laundry piles up - with nowhere to go! To help with organization, many cruisers bring a small pop-up hamper to keep in their cruise cabins for dirty clothes.

I’ve tried this a few times while cruising, particularly on longer sailings where I know I will have a big pile of dirty laundry, and I loved it! This pop-up hamper is so small and conveniently fits on the bottom of your suitcase for ease of travel. Some might say this is a nice-to-have, but many say a pop-up hamper is an essential!

Mesh Pop Up Laundry Hamper with Durable Handles - Portable Collapsible Clothes Baskets for Dorm, Bathroom & Travel (Blue) Price: $6.99 

17. Ziplock Baggies

Another essential item for your cruise cabin is a small pack of ziplock baggies! These are so versatile to use throughout your cruise. Anything from keeping your belongings safe during an excursion or packing away some snacks for your big adventure - baggies are great to have.

Having baggies on hand can be very handy in your cabin for a variety of reasons. I would suggest bringing different baggie sizes from sandwich to quart and gallon bags. You can also place your liquids inside a ziplock bag for use in your cabin or when traveling home.

Ziploc Food Storage and Sandwich Bags Variety Pack, New Stay Open Design with Stand-Up Bottom, Easy to Fill, 166 Bags Total Price: $23.97

18. Portable charger

With cabins having limited outlets for charging, it’s essential for someone in the cabin to bring a portable charger. This allows you to not only charge additional devices in your cabin, but you can also take this ashore during your excursions.

Having a small portable charger can help keep your phone fully charged to have throughout your day. In addition, I’ve even used these in my cruise stateroom so I do not need to be physically by the vanity for charging.

Anker Portable Charger, Power Bank, 10,000 mAh Battery Pack with PowerIQ Charging Technology and USB-C (Input Only) for iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, iPhone 14/13 Series, Samsung Galaxy Price: $15.99

19. Over-the-door shoe organizer

While I haven’t purchased this essential cabin item myself, tons of cruisers are obsessed with packing an over-the-door-shoe organizer for their cabins. While you can certainly use this for storing your shoes, people use this for anything or everything!

With so many cubbies and compartments for storage, you can neatly store many of your cruising essentials without leaving them all over the cabin.

Amazon Basics Over the Door Organizer with 24 Pockets - Black Price: $11.99

20. Motion-censored night light

If you’re someone who has a night light at home to navigate in the night, one essential item to pack is a portable, motion-censored night light for your cruise cabin. This night light will softly illuminate your cabin in the night when it senses motion.

Those booked in an interior cabin should especially consider packing this essential item. Interior staterooms have no windows, so these cabins are pitch black at all hours of the day! Having this kind of night light can ensure you navigate your cabin safely.

Night Light Motion Sensor [Battery Powered] with Rotating Base for Indoor Use in Bathroom, Hallway, Cruise Cabin & More Price: $17.99

21. Laundry packets

On Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships, you won’t have access to any laundry facilities onboard. Your only option for laundry is paying for laundry service through the cruise ship where crew members will wash your dirty clothes.

If you don’t feel like shelling out the money for laundry, you should consider packing travel-sized laundry packets for your cruise cabin. I’ve done more laundry in a cruise cabin sink than I’d like to admit. In fact, I did all my laundry for 100 days in a cruise cabin sink while I lived on a ship for my study abroad program in college.

Tide Sink Packs Laundry Detergent Does 3 Loads (3 packs of 3) Price: $8.39

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Cruising can have quite the learning curve, so why not learn from those that already mastered it all?

If you’re new to Royal Caribbean, it’s natural to feel intimidated by the things you need to learn and prepare for.

One reason you’re probably reading this post right now is so you can find out all the tips and tricks Royal Caribbean veterans know.

Cruise fans have developed tried-and-true strategies to enjoy their cruises to the fullest. Thankfully, the Internet allows us to share all these tips—and for you to learn from them!

By researching and putting into practice these insider hacks, you can make sure you have the best cruise possible. 

If you are new to Royal Caribbean, here are nine things people who cruise Royal Caribbean all the time know about taking a cruise that you might want to consider doing too.

1. Check-in as soon as possible

Getting the earliest check-in time gets you onboard the ship faster.

The Royal Caribbean app and website will open online check-in 45 days before the cruise begins.

Cruise veterans check-in as soon as this opportunity opens, and some even stay up late to be the first!

If you stay up late, checking in at midnight based on the time zone of your sailing, you can get the earliest possible check-in time slot.

After you complete check-in, you’ll receive an option of time slots, usually ranging between 11 A.M. and 2 P.M.

When each time slot fills up with guests, it will close. So it makes sense that you’d need to check-in early to get the earlier times.

The sooner you check-in, the sooner you get onboard the ship!

Since the price you paid for the cruise won’t change, check-in early to get those extra couple of hours onboard.

2. Book specialty dining in advance

Royal Caribbean offers some amazing—and popular—extra-cost dining venues. 

From Chops Grille to Izumi Hibachi, there are formal and delicious meal options for all tastes.

If you want to ensure a table will be open for you, try booking the restaurant before you get onboard the ship.

Royal Caribbean veterans know that restaurants can fill up fast, and you’ll need to act quickly if you want to reserve a table.

You can make reservations online via Royal Caribbean’s Cruise Planner website.

This way, you’ll guarantee a spot and choose the date and time that works best for your schedule.

If you want to celebrate a special occasion or holiday, it’s especially important to plan ahead and reserve as soon as possible.

If you choose to purchase a specialty dining package instead of individual restaurant reservations, have a plan of where and when you want to eat.

Then, make your reservations as soon as you get onboard the ship.

Staff at any one of the specialty venues can help you book your meals for all of the venues.

3. Purchase your cruise years ahead

Royal Caribbean veterans work to get the best possible prices on cruise fares.

The more you save, the more you can spend on activities, excursions, or even another cruise!

To get the best possible price when booking a cruise, you’ll want to book as early in advance as possible.

Ideally, you’d want to book a year or years in advance.

The earlier you book, the more staterooms will be available. Since cruises operate on supply and demand, prices will be cheaper when more supply is available.

By booking one or two years early, you’ll get ahead of the demand and increased prices.

Try asking a Royal Caribbean vet when they book their cruises, and they’ll likely give you an answer measured in years.

If you’re on a cruise and find yourself thinking about the next vacation, you can also book your next cruise directly onboard. You can save hundreds of dollars per person by booking at the Next Cruise area.

For the more impulsive types, last-minute deals are also worth keeping an eye on. While they’re less assured than ones planned years in advance, occasionally those last-minute deals will have a discount worth snatching up.

Read more: How to plan a cruise for the first time

4. Cruise during the off-season

If you’re still looking for fare deals, keep in mind that it matters more when you cruise, not so much when you book the cruise.

Finding lower fares is easier if you’re willing to cruise when school is in session (August to May) and during the cruise shoulder season.

Shoulder season, which offers lower fares, fewer crowds, and comfortable temperatures, varies depending on your destination.

Usually, these times include the months of January (excluding New Year’s Day), February, May, and September, the first two weeks of November, and the first two weeks of December.

Cruising during these times will give you a lower fare, because it’s when other people are less likely to try cruising. 

Buy a cruise for those times when others are at work or in school, and you’ll be rewarded with fewer crowds and lower prices.

5. Try a smaller ship

Yes, Royal Caribbean heavily promotes its newest and biggest ships.

You’ve probably heard about everything there is to try on huge ships like Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.

But despite the public attention the mega-ships command, veterans know that every ship in the fleet has something to offer—even the smaller ones.

Radiance, Vision, and Voyager Class ships all have their own charm. 

From a quieter experience to a more tight-knit crew to opportunities at unique ports, some amazing experiences can’t be replicated by a larger ship.

Not only that, but they’re also likely to come with a lower price tag.

There’s nothing wrong with those big, exciting ships like in the Icon, Oasis, and Quantum Class, but be sure that you’re not writing off those smaller ships.

The demand for smaller ships isn’t going away anytime soon, and Royal Caribbean has even discussed plans for a new class of smaller ships.

6. Stay onboard in port

If you ever talk to someone who cruises a lot, there's a good chance if you ask them what their plans are while in port, they'll tell you they are staying on the ship.

There are a few good reasons why you might want to strategically embrace this strategy.

If it's a ship new to you and you want to explore and enjoy what the ship has to offer, staying onboard during a port visit gives you more time onboard and less lines to contend with.

Taking a cruise on Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, or Odyssey of the Seas, there's a good chance you picked these new ships because of all the cool things it offers. While the ship is in port, signature activities tend to be far less crowded, especially the pool and water slides.

Sometimes they stay onboard because there just isn't an excursion or activity that speaks to them. There's nothing wrong with staying on the ship if you don't find a tour that fits your needs.

In addition, cruise pros stay onboard if it's a port of call they've been to in the past. Some ports have a lot of repeatability, while others, not so much.

7. Join the loyalty program

While the Crown and Anchor Society isn’t exactly a secret, veteran cruisers know how to take full advantage of this loyalty program.

You can even sign up before your first cruise, and you’ll earn points for each night you spend on a Royal Caribbean ship.

It’s free to sign up, and you will receive more and more discounts as you earn points.

The Crown and Anchor Society rewards frequent cruisers with onboard discounts, priority embarkation and check-in, and promotional offers.

8. Read Cruise Compasses to prepare

Wondering what exactly you can expect on your next cruise?

It’s hard to accurately predict exactly what events, activities, and specials might be offered on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean pros know that they can consult an old Cruise Compass to see what was previously offered on similar sailings.

Looking at an old cruise itinerary can give you a good idea of what to expect going forward.

From entertainment to activities, Royal Caribbean ships won’t change their schedule too much from week to week.

And we have an archive of old Cruise Compasses you to peruse. 

9. Use a good travel agent

Yes, we always recommend using a good travel agent for your cruise.

They’re able to make life easier for you through planning, preparation, and saving you money overall.

A good travel agent comes at no extra cost to you, as they are paid by the cruise line. They provide expertise and knowledge to help you get the best cruise vacation possible.

A good travel agent will have a wealth of knowledge about Royal Caribbean, and be able to answer a variety of questions for you.

Read more: Royal Caribbean’s top travel agents prove why you need one more than ever

Pros know that no one has all the answers, so having a guide in the form of a travel agent gets you your own personal advocate. 

From booking the cruise to any problems you run into onboard, they will be there to assist you.

Royal Caribbean has made big headlines with its newest and largest cruise ship in the world, but not everything you may have heard is necessarily true.

Icon of the Seas has garnered a lot of attention for a lot of good reasons. It's not only big, but delivers new experiences and reimagines concepts borrowed from existing ships. Icon has generated buzz and some people have started to come up with ways to summarize the ship, but are they fair representations of what you can expect?

Read more: All about Icon of the Seas

I wanted to debunk some of the common Icon of the Seas myths I've read so far, and share why they may not be entirely true.

Icon of the Seas is only for kids

Royal Caribbean may have designed Icon of the Seas to be its most family-friendly cruise ship to date, but it's far from a floating elementary school at sea.

This myth is rooted in Royal Caribbean's extremely effective marketing of the new ship. The cruise line wants to compete more directly with Florida land vacations that attract families, especially families with young children.

They turned an entire neighborhood into a kids space, added a waterpark to its top deck, and designed more cabins for parents and their children to fit into than ever before.

While those are indeed wonderful changes specifically for people taking a cruise with kids, there's still plenty for adults to do, including those without any kids.

Just like other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there's an adults-only space onboard.  Located in the Hideaway neighborhood, you'll find a new take on the adults enclave. 

Then there's all the bars and lounges that lean more adult, such as the Music Hall, Schooner Bar, Pub, and Playmakers. Plus, there's new bar concepts that you'll only find on the Icon Class ships. Dueling Pianos is a new bar that brings an experience never offered before. Rye and Bean is another new bar that offers coffee-infused cocktails that is great for a pick-me-up.

The new jazz club in Central Park brings a throwback to Harlem jazz clubs, and it's the perfect spot for live music, a cocktail, and a good time.

The casino on Icon is massive, and the layout has been greatly improved as well.

Of course, adults will enjoy many venues that kids like too. After all, a space doesn't have to be exclusively for adults for adults to be able to enjoy it. 

Don't forget the new adults-only expansion at Perfect Day at CocoCay.  Hideaway Beach is an extra cost section of the private island where you wont find any children.

The idea it's "just for kids" is overlooking quite a lot of things to do to keep adults entertained too.

You have to book specialty dining for good food

While Royal Caribbean ships have added lots of extra cost restaurants over the years, Icon of the Seas has some really good choices included with your cruise fare.

First and foremost, don't overlook the Aquadome Market as one of the cruise line's best new dining concepts in a long time.

Aquadome Market is a food hall, where you can go to any booth and order a freshly made dish. Each booth caters to a specific cuisine, and you'll find Asian, Greek, salads, and more to consider.

You'll also notice a greater emphasis on grab-and-go choices on Icon of the Seas, especially at Pearl Cafe.

Pearl Cafe is a replacement and upgrade to Cafe Promenade, where there are all sorts of breakfast items, snacks, and compliments to a morning cup of coffee.

In the Surfside neighborhood, there are two restaurants included in your cruise fare, and while they may be in the "kids area", it has some great comfort food many adults will love as well.

Surfside Eatery is a buffet that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's a smorgasbord of chicken nuggets, quesadillas, hot dogs, pizza, and more. 

If you happen to be in a suite, there's two restaurants just for you, instead of the usual one. You'll find sit-down meals at Coastal Kitchen and casual buffet choices at The Grove.

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

And then of course you have the stalwarts of the included cruise dining game: Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, Sorrento's Pizza and Park Cafe.

While there are indeed lots of compelling extra-cost restaurants, you can easily stick to the dining included with your cruise fare and not miss out on great eating.

The ship is too big and overwhelming

Icon of the Seas was designed to capture the public's imagination, and if you've never cruised before, a ship of this size may seem overwhelming.

There's no denying Icon is big, but don't let its size fool you. Royal Caribbean is no stranger to building big ships, and they recognize the importance of ensuring it's manageable and easy to navigate.

The ship is divided up into neighborhoods, which means sections of the ship have a distinct theme and look to them. The idea is that without studying a deck map, you can visually differentiate areas and that makes it easier to remember how to get around the ship.

As soon as you walk around Icon of the Seas, I think you'll find it easier than you think to get around the ship without feeling lost.

One welcome change Royal Caribbean made was to make spaces more open. The Royal Promenade in particular is wider than on other ships, and there's more windows too.

Ever since the age of the megaship dawned in the 90s, the public has been in awe of how big cruise ships are and wonder how difficult it will be to find their way around the ship.

The reality is a cruise is what you make of it, and you can choose to do a lot or nothing at all. Plus, the ships tend to be more manageable than you might think simply by looking at photos of them.

Icon is too expensive and unaffordable

Like all myths, there's a bit of truth to the assumption that Icon of the Seas is expensive. After all, it's a brand new cruise ship and new ships always command a higher price tag.

While Icon of the Seas is not going to offer bargain basement fares, there are deals out there if you're flexible and can plan ahead.

Looking at cruise prices for Icon, there are significantly lower prices for select sailings in 2025 and 2026.  If you want to get on Icon without paying top dollar, you want to book your cruise now.

At the time of writing this article, I found lower prices for upcoming dates in the next two years. Here are examples of some starting prices:

• January 10, 2025: $1723 per person
• May 10, 2025: $2146 per person
• May 24, 2025: $2046 per person
• August 16, 2025: $2254 per person
• September 6, 2025: $1983 per person
• September 27, 2025: $2,057 per person
• October 18, 2025: $1964 per person
• November 15, 2025: $1859 per person

There's even lower prices for a number of winter and spring cruises in 2026.

What's affordable or a deal will vary from person to person, but the high prices you may be seeing for Icon of the Seas this summer can be avoided if you're willing to book well in advance and can sail during certain times of the year.  That isn't to say there's going to be bottom of the barrel prices, just that there are lower prices out there.

Speaking of lower prices, it's always worth working with a good travel agent because sometimes they have agency specific group rates that can be even lower than what you see on the Royal Caribbean website.

You can play with the ship's family dog

There is indeed a dog that lives on Icon of the Seas, and she's as cute as she looks. But I wouldn't make belly rub plans quite yet.

Rover is the name of the golden retriever that is the official "family dog" on Icon. She's less than a year old, and super cute and there is a chance you might see her around the ship.

Read more: I take care of a dog on the world's largest cruise ship

If you're like my kids, your first reaction was "I can't wait to meet Rover", but the reality is it's more likely you'll go the entire cruise without seeing Rover than not.

With up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity, there's a lot of other people who wouldn't mind playing with Rover.  And while Rover is probably used to being on a ship now, she is understandably not going to be at the center of attention to avoid overwhelming her.

Plus, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure Rover gets to live her best life. There's plenty of time for naps and quiet time.

So while you might be able to spot Rover onboard, don't make any firm plans to interact with her in the same way you might plan to meet a theme park character.

Royal Caribbean’s private island looks like a tropical paradise.

Sprawling with pools, bars, beaches, restaurants, and a water park, it’s a family’s vacation dream come true.

To make this dream even more of a vision, the majority of amenities on Perfect Day at CocoCay are included in your cruise fare!

On my first visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, I enjoyed resting on the beach and trying the snacks. 

However, I didn’t know the full breadth of everything available for free. 

We even went back to the ship to eat lunch, not knowing that we could have tried it on the island.

To prevent you from making the same mistake and missing out on everything the island has to offer, we’ve compiled a guide to exactly what is free on Perfect Day at CocoCay.

From beach chairs to tram rides to countless beaches, here’s everything you can enjoy without spending a dime. 

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

Waterparks: Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill’s Galleon

Where else can you access an entire waterpark for free?

Splashaway Bay can be found on Perfect Day CocoCay as soon as you enter the island. 

Featuring drenching buckets, tall, spraying fountains, and even free waterslides, it provides free fun for kids of all ages.

For the even younger kiddos, Captain Jill’s Galleon is a ship located right next door. The shipwrecked pirate spot also has water cannons and slides.

Whether you want to make a quick stop on your way onto the island or make the waterpark your whole day of fun, it’s free to access both Splashaway Bay and Captain Jill’s Galleon.

Food: Snack Shack, Skipper’s Grill, and Chill Grill

Nearly all the food venues at Perfect Day at CocoCay are free to enter. 

Snack Shack has two locations available next to Oasis Lagoon and South Beach. This grab-and-go snack stop has finger food such as hot dogs, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and even salads if you’re looking for something lighter. 

There are even desserts for free: brownies, cookies, and funnel cake. The funnel cake especially is a family favorite!

And there’s no limit to how much food you can grab. Just like onboard your cruise ship, you can even make a plate and carry it with you around the island.

There are even larger dining huts to choose from. Both Skipper Grill and Chill Grill are included in your cruise fare.

These open-air buffets include lunch eats like hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, corn, french fries, salads, and fruit options. 

There are also taco stations with all the fixings you can desire, and rice and beans.

On the side, you’ll find condiments, cookies, brownies, and fresh fruit!

Again, all this comes included in your cruise fare, free of charge.

Beaches: Harbor Beach, Chill Island, and South Beach

Beach access on the island is also complimentary. The main shores are Harbor Beach and South Beach.

Harbor Beach is located near where the ship docks, making it a great option for families to play and spread out with sand toys.

South Beach caters more to adults, featuring hot sand and a floating bar.

It is completely free to stretch out on the sand, play in the clear water, and observe little fish swimming by. 

Chill Island has access to the beach water. You can wade into the water further on, or bring your own snorkeling gear to look for fish and stingrays.

At all locations, you can also use beach chairs, umbrellas, and handy tables without paying anything extra.

You can also bring the complimentary towels from the ship, or pick up more on the island for free. They are interchangeable and completely included in the cruise fare.

Read more: Your really dumb Perfect Day at CocoCay questions answered

Be sure to keep an eye out for the hammocks around the island, because they are included too!

There are a number of hammocks in Chill Island as you cross the bridge from the Arrivals Plaza on your left side.

Tram rides

Perfect Day at CocoCay spans 120 acres. That’s 158 football fields! 

With so much space to explore, it’s easy for the average pair of legs to get tired walking around. 

To help solve this problem, Royal Caribbean has free open-air trams that run around the island.

The trams spot by every 15 minutes, making six total stops at the Arrivals Plaza, South Beach, Coco Beach Club, Up, Up, and Away, Chill Island, and Oasis Lagoon.

All you have to do is sit down at a bench to wait and hop onto the nearest tram!

There’s no reason to stay tired, hungry, or thirsty on this private island. Just relax and enjoy everything CocoCay has to offer.

Oasis Lagoon

Located in the center of the island, Oasis Lagoon is a popular pool complex that fills up fast.

There’s a large, sparkling pool where you can swim and splash around. 

In the pool's center is a swim-up bar next to a DJ center. Live beats play, while guests sip tropical drinks and dance in the warm water.

Nearby sun loungers and umbrellas also make this a great place to leave your stuff or to sit and rest.

Access to this pool is also completely free, but be sure to show up early if you want to find a good spot!

Read more: My Impressions of Perfect Day at CocoCay: Revisiting 13 Years Later

Showers and lockers

Access to amenities such as showers and restrooms will always be complimentary.

You can also find changing rooms around the island, as well as lockers to hold all your valuable items.

You may find yourself waiting in line at busy times on the island, but rest assured, you’ll never have to pay.

Sports Court and Fitness Classes

Whether you enjoy Frisbee, basketball, or beach volleyball, the Sports Court has all the free activities you could desire.

There are also free fitness classes available, such as yoga or Zumba. You can check your cruise compass or the mobile app to see the exact activities offered.

This is a great way to take advantage of the sunshine, and slog off some of that cruise weight!

Be sure to walk to Breezy Bay to see all the fun sports activities that cost nothing extra there. There are a variety of games to play near the volleyball court.

So what costs extra on Perfect Day at CocoCay?

Specialty beverages, such as alcoholic drinks, cost extra at the bars on Perfect Day at CocoCay.

However, if you’ve already purchased a Royal Caribbean drink package, you can use it on the island by showing your SeaPass card, just like you would onboard the ship.

The same goes for the VOOM high-speed Internet: if you’ve already purchased the package, you will have access to it on Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Even if you don’t have the Wifi, you’ll be able to access the app while on the island.

This makes it convenient to check the time and onboard schedules and message your travel party.

Several shops on the island sell souvenirs, which come at an extra cost but can be purchased with your SeaPass card.

Access to the Thrill Waterpark also costs extra, in addition to the Up, Up, and Away hot air balloon.

Royal Caribbean also sells adrenaline-filled shore excursions such as ziplining, snorkeling equipment, swimming with pigs, kayaking, parasailing, and jet skiing.

For a luxury beach experience, you can rent CocoCay cabanas and daybeds by the beach.

Read more: Perfect Day at CocoCay beach bed review

For an even more private experience, Royal Caribbean sells access to the exclusive club Coco Beach Club. 

More recently, the cruise line also opened up Hideaway Beach, an 18+, adults-only beach that costs extra.

Happy weekend! We hope you remembered to Spring Forward! Here’s all the Royal Caribbean news this week!

Royal Caribbean has moved up the first sailing of its newest cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean is ahead of schedule on Utopia of the Seas and added a new sailing before the original inaugural sailing on July 22, 2024.

Since the Utopia will be arriving at Port Canaveral earlier than expected, the ship will have a new inaugural sailing over the weekend of July 19, 2024.

She will be the first Oasis Class ship to focus on short 3 and 4-night cruises.

Royal Caribbean News

• Five moves Royal Caribbean is making to overhaul its weekend cruise business for the future
• Photos show the secret crew-only areas on Icon of the Seas
• I stayed in the cheapest virtual balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. Look inside my $137 a night room.
• Royal Caribbean requires cruise ship passengers only app check-in with its app from Vancouver
• "I will be checking under the bed now": Royal Caribbean crew member accused of hiding cameras to spy on guests
• Chops Grille is the best Royal Caribbean extra-cost restaurant, according to a passenger survey
• Royal Caribbean Flowrider: How to surf on a cruise ship
• Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas
• Your Royal Caribbean cruise is probably still going to Labadee despite Haiti’s situation

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 527th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, and shares why you might not want to book the cheapest cruise you can find.

Matt shares his advice for planning a visit to Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas.

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

New RCB Video: Simple trick to avoid thousands of dollars in cellphone charges on a cruise ship

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 — Simple trick to avoid thousands of dollars in cellphone charges on a cruise ship — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

Guide to Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade

Did you know you can find a sports bar and arcade right on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship?

Playmakers Sports Bar is an extra-cost bar and arcade that serves food and drink a la carte.

You can enjoy the games and sports playing at no cost, or pay per dish when it comes to the food and drinks. Popular dishes include the wings and the touchdown sundae. 

The location also serves a variety of craft beers and sports-themed cocktails. 

How to plan a cruise for the first time

Planning your first cruise can be a daunting task. There are a myriad of options for you to navigate, from staterooms to itineraries to ship sizes.

Matt has developed a simple guide for you to get started with planning your cruise.

Start with your budget, then move on to decide the length, type, cruise cabin, and specific booking you'd like.

We also have a brand-new online course to help you plan your cruise like a pro!

Spring break is one of the most lively times to take a cruise. Here are 5 tips my family swears by to make crowded sea days better.

Looking forward to your spring cruise? Be prepared for huge crowds and long lines. 

Matt loves to sail during spring break season, so his family has some strategies to make the crowds a little less overwhelming.

From traditional dining to the suite life, here's how you can avoid those busy sea days.

How long does it take for a cruise ship to get ready for a new group of passengers? Here's what a hotel director has to say.

Have you ever wondered how a cruise ship goes straight from one sailing to the next?

On a recent Anthem of the Seas cruise, hotel director Adrian Gheorghe said that the ship rotates almost 9,000 passengers on a turnaround day.

The cruise ship hospitality staff have to work efficiently to clean each space after the previous passengers and get ready for the new ones.

Click here to read the hotel director's strategy for a turnaround day.

Why I almost always stay in a cruise ship inside cabin

An inside cabin will cost less than a balcony or suite, and it often makes a lot of sense to go with these kinds of rooms.

Inside cabins definitely aren’t for everyone, but Jenna prefers to stay in them for the great savings they provide.

From a quieter cabin to a perfect night’s sleep, she'll never complain about cruising in a cozy inside room.

Specialty restaurants are not included in your fare, so what’s worth splurging on?

Among over 1,000 past Royal Caribbean cruisers, Chops Grille came out as the most popular specialty restaurant across the fleet.

People from the Royal Caribbean Dining Facebook page were asked to vote on their absolute top restaurant.

Across 14 possible choices, Chops was ranked the top pay restaurant in Royal Caribbean's fleet, garnering 28% of the vote.

On a Royal Caribbean ship, you’ll have access to complimentary restaurants, such as the Windjammer and the Main Dining Room.

Specialty restaurants usually have a unique theme and more specific menu than others. 

Cruisers prefer them for the quality service, upscale atmosphere, and overall more luxurious experience.

Chops Grille was voted the best specialty restaurant 

In total, we received 1115 votes on the poll. Chops Grille won as the top favorite, with 28% of the votes.

150 Central Park came in second place, at 22%.

In distant third place, 9% voted Izumi Hibachi as their favorite specialty restaurant.

8% of respondents also voted for Wonderland as their favorite restaurant, with the rest only getting a few of the votes.

This result isn’t a surprise, considering that most respondents have had a chance to try dining at Chops Grille.

Chops is one of the most popular and well-known specialty restaurants. This quality steakhouse is featured on all Royal Caribbean ships, meaning you’ll get to try it no matter which sailing you choose.

Dru Mason explained her thinking: “It was between Chops and Izumi, but I voted for Chops. Chops has been consistent across most of the ships, so I gave them the vote.”

Because Chops Grille is so popular and offered on every ship, it makes sense that Royal Caribbean has had the chance to test and perfect the restaurant’s menu and service. 

Mike Fresa echoed this sentiment, commenting that, “Chops is the best… then Izumi.”

Izumi offers both Hibachi and sushi options, serving up quality Japanese food. 

Izumi is available on Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas.

On the other hand, some commenters didn’t have a great experience with Chops Grille. Zach Zilen wrote: “We have been disappointed in Chops several times. The only one we keep going back to is Giovanni’s.”

7% of the votes on the Facebook survey went to Giovanni’s Table or Giovanni’s Kitchen, a venue that serves popular Italian cuisine.

On Adventure of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, Jewel of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas, the restaurant is called Giovanni’s Table.

On Freedom of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas, and Odyssey of the Seas, the venue was revamped and named Giovanni’s Kitchen, an upgraded contemporary that added perks such as fresh-tossed pizza.

Other comments on the survey expressed that they would choose other restaurants for reasons other than the food.

For example, some venues have different experiences to offer: “I say Wonderland because it’s the one that I’d never be able to duplicate on land,” said Charla Miller. “A truly unique experience.”

The Wonderland venue is an imaginative experience based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. With its experimental design and mind-bending food, it makes sense that this venue provides an irreplaceable experience. 

Wonderland is available on Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.

But not everyone likes to spend extra money on food. Since specialty restaurants come at an additional cost, some cruisers would rather eat the complimentary food and save their money. Mary Chi expressed this perspective, commenting, “4 cruises and never felt the need to buy extra dinners.”

Still, if you’re interested in trying a luxurious meal, Chops Grille is voted your best option.

What can you expect at Chops Grille?

Chops specializes in juicy steaks, with the tender filet being the most popular menu item.

However, the steakhouse also serves other meats like lamb, pork, fish, Maine lobster, and chicken.

The price for a dinner at Chops Grille varies depending on the ship but usually ranges from $50-$60 per person. The price for lunch is usually lower than for dinner.

A meal at Chops can also be included in your specialty dining package, whether that’s the unlimited package or the 3-night dining package. 

An 18% gratuity may also be added automatically, and you can always tip again at the end of your meal.

The restaurant's classy ambiance makes it a popular spot for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other special occasions. The location is decorated with low, golden lighting, dark brown wood, and crisp white linens, except on Icon of the Seas which has a more modern motif. 

It is an upscale four-course meal. The dress code is smart or smart-casual, and you will be served by a dedicated waitstaff. 

Chops Grille offers both lunch and dinner. If you’re planning an evening meal at Chop, it’s best to reserve a dinner, as spots fill up quickly.

The dinner meal begins with a complimentary serving of bread buns and butter.

After you receive your menu, you can start by ordering unique appetizers such as bacon, shrimp cocktails, crab cakes, tuna tartare, and beer carpaccio.

Next, you can select a soup: wild mushroom, lobster bisque, or other specials; or a salad: caesar, wedge lettuce, or crispy goat cheese.

Your waiter will also bring a beverage menu, with many quality wines. Like in other venues on the ship, the alcohol costs extra, but may be included in your beverage package.

For the entree, options include meats like the tender filet—either 9 or 6 ounces—prime ribeye, prime NY strip, a rack of lamb, or roasted chicken.

There is also a selection of seafood entrees: grilled branzino, spicy jumbo shrimp, Atlantic salmon, or Maine lobster.

You can choose an unlimited number of sides, with options such as tater tots, spinach, grilled asparagus, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, French fries, and baked potatoes. 

And yes, you might notice that there are many potato-based items available.

For dessert, the menu includes delicacies like red velvet cake, raspberry cheesecake, and key lime pie.

The desserts come in huge slices, a much larger serving than you might receive at the Main Dining Room. If dessert’s your thing, that’s one reason to consider splurging on an extra-cost restaurant!

The lunch menu is a slimmed-down version of the dinner, with fewer appetizers, entrees, and sides, and only two dessert selections.

If you get full at any point, you can ask your server to package up the food to bring back to your cabin. Don’t let those extra pennies go to waste!

As always, you can ask for accommodations for your food allergies, from lactose-free to gluten-free to vegetarian options. However, given that Chops Grille is a steakhouse, it may not be the best spot for vegetarians or vegans. People who avoid meat and animal products may not find a lot to enjoy.

But if juicy steaks and quality meats are your thing, this restaurant might also become your new favorite. 

Sports bars aren’t just a land activity.

If you love a casual meal while watching a sporting event, or sharing a snack while playing games with friends, you won’t have to give that up on your cruise.

Royal Caribbean has a sports bar on some of its ships called Playmakers. 

The cruise line designed this bar as a fun, casual specialty venue for you to watch your favorite team play.

It fits in the simple but popular concept of a sports bar with quality beers and cocktails, a yummy selection of food, televisions in every corner, and games with even a mini-arcade center attached.

What can you expect from Playmakers?

If wings, sporting events, and craft beers are your thing, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to the Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade.

What is Playmakers?

Playmakers can be found on:

• Freedom of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas

On Oasis-Class ships, Playmakers is featured at the heart of the Boardwalk.

The venue is open-air and inviting, with warm lighting and a variety of seating to choose from. 

Over 30 televisions are placed around the bar so that everyone can get a view of a screen.

At peak times, you’ll find other cruisers drinking, partying, watching a sports game, or competing in games of their own.

The bar features games like pool, foosball, Jenga, shuffleboard, and Connect 4. 

The attached arcade also has skee ball, video games, and more. 

While the board and table games are free, the arcade games may cost money to play, depending on which ship you’re sailing on.

It is noisy fun with a welcoming atmosphere, just like your favorite small sports bar at home.

What kind of food is served and how much does it cost?

It’s free to sit inside Playmakers and watch a game. However, the food and drinks all come at an extra cost.

An 18% gratuity will also be added to your check, depending on the port and itineraries. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean raises prices at some of its specialty restaurants

Prices may vary, but you can usually find a sample menu on Royal Caribbean’s website.

The “warmups” or appetizers range from $5.99 to $12.99. They include classic finger foods like nachos, chicken tenders, fries, pigskin sliders, onion rings, and jalapeño poppers.

Don’t be fooled by the casual atmosphere, though. The food at Playmakers is delicious!

Even if sports and games aren’t your thing, this venue is worth visiting to try some of the servings.

You can order 12 wings for $13.99, 24 wings for $19.99, or 50 wings for $29.99.

The wings come with your choice of sauce—buffalo, barbeque, or Jamaican jerk—and are served with blue cheese, celery, and carrots.

The adjustable amounts mean that you can order for just yourself, or for huge groups of people traveling together.

If you’re up for it, take on the Playmakers Challenge: eat 100 of the hottest “major-league” buffalo wings and you’ll win a commemorative T-shirt!

There are also several burgers, all for $11.99 each and served with fries. These include the classic burger, the impossible burger, the truffle burger, and the chicken sandwich.

Something great about Playmakers is that it's priced a la carte, so you only pay for what you order. This can be a small dish if you’re apprehensive about spending extra on food.

If you have the unlimited specialty dining package, you’ll receive a $20 food credit at Playmakers per person, per day. That means you can dine at Playmakers once per day, but can still go to another a la carte restaurant and eat there too once per day.

When it comes to desserts, there are currently two options on the menu. You can try a campfire cookie, with marshmallows, Nutella, and milk shooters on the side, or the touchdown sundae, which is five scoops of ice cream topped with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

The sundae is served in a mini football helmet that you can take home with you.

The cookie costs $8.99, and the sundae is $11.99.

What’s on the drink menu?

Playmakers offers domestic and international beers, as well as seven types of craft beers.

They even serve 60-ounce pitchers of your favorite beer for $18!

There’s also a selection of sports-themed cocktails for $13 each: Black and Gold, the Pitch, Knockout Punch, a Goal Post Margarita, and the Playmakers Bloody Mary.

There are also hard ciders, wines, and non-alcoholic drinks.

If you have a Royal Caribbean deluxe drink package, all the beers, wines, and cocktails will be included.

However, you’re not just limited to the Playmakers drink menu. There is a full bar, where you can order anything you might typically enjoy at a Royal Caribbean bar. Just ask the bartender, and they’ll let you know if they can make it for you.

You’re also welcome to stop at the bar without ordering a full plate of food. Just like a sports bar on land, Playmakers is that casual hangout spot for you to enjoy.

When is Playmakers open?

Playmakers is rarely "closed." You can usually hop in for a seat or to play a game at any hour of the day. 

However, the bar serves drinks between 10:00 A.M and 1:00 A.M.

There are two different time slots to order food: 11:30 A.M to 3:30 P.M., and again from 5:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.

If you struggle with nighttime snack cravings, Playmakers is a great option! It stays open and serves food most times of the day.

Read more: Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade restaurant review on Symphony of the Seas

What games will be playing?

The games shown differ on a cruise ship on land thanks to complicated international satellite game rights. Most games, especially high-profile games, are available to watch in Playmakers.

Cruise ships get an international satellite feed, so even though the ship may be sailing from the United States, it gets a different set of games.

College football fans can probably watch their favorite teams playing on Saturdays. During football season, NFL games will also be shown on Sundays.

You can expect games from major networks to stream.  Options will vary depending on the ship and season.

Basketball, football, soccer, and golf are all sports commonly streamed at Playmakers. In addition, there's a lot of cricket and soccer shown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a dress code?

Royal Caribbean lists the dress code as “casual.” Playmakers is a chill sports bar, so there is no other specific dress code.

However, you’ll want to wear a cover-up over any swimsuits, and make sure you’re wearing shoes!

Is there an age limit to enter?

Alcohol can only be served to patrons 21 and up on North American sailings. 

Based on Royal Caribbean’s marketing of Playmakers, kids are welcome to enter with parents and play games. We have never heard of anyone being turned away from Playmakers.

Do I have to pay extra?

While it doesn’t cost money to enter Playmakers, you will have to pay extra for the food and drinks.

Most of the hands-on games are also free, except for the full arcade machines.

Can I use my dining/drink package at Playmakers?

Yes. If you have the unlimited specialty dining package, you’ll receive a $20 food credit at Playmakers per day.

If you have a Royal Caribbean deluxe drink package, all the beers, wines, and cocktails will be included. Other drink packages work here too.

Do I need to make a reservation?

No, you do not need to make a reservation at Playmakers.

Reservations are not accepted. However, the venue can get busy, especially during peak times or when a big game is streaming. 

Be prepared to wait a little before getting your food and drinks.