Royal Caribbean Blog

A Royal Caribbean crew member has been arrested for reportedly installing hidden cameras in guests' bathrooms to secretly spy on young girls. 

Arvin Joseph Mirasol, 34, a cabin steward from the Philippines, was arrested on Sunday after a passenger onboard Symphony of the Seas found a camera in her bathroom earlier that week. 

The guest found the concealed camera when she reached under the sink to grab a roll of toilet paper. Afterward, she went to Guest Services, with the ship's security team responding to her cabin. 

According to a post-Miranda interview, Mirasol claimed to have been hiding cameras in staterooms since he began working on the ship in December 2023, as well as hiding underneath the bed when guests were in the shower. Additionally, he said that he would pleasure himself after recovering the camera and watching the obtained footage. 

He was detained on the ship until it returned to Fort Lauderdale on March 3. Upon arrival, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and the Broward County Sheriff's Office reported to the scene to speak with security and Mirasol. 

They investigated his electronic devices and found videos of women undressing, as well as child pornography. There was an additional video that actually showed Mirasol installing a camera. 

A statement issued by Royal Caribbean said, "We have zero tolerance for this unacceptable behavior. We immediately reported this to law enforcement and terminated the crew member, and we will continue to fully cooperate with authorities.”

"I will be checking under [the] sink and bed now"

People have taken to social media and online forums to discuss the incident. The majority of comments condemn Mirasol's actions, while others wonder how he was able to get away with such vile acts. 

One woman, whose Cruise Critic user name is link99, wrote that she'll be checking underneath the sink and bed on future cruises. 

Link99, who will be boarding Symphony of the Seas in two weeks, later made up a hypothetical situation to add to their concern: "Just add this to your thoughts. [You're] at the Pool with your kids. They happen to need something from the room. You send them without another thought about it."

"No parent should have to worry about a person hiding in [their] room much less a cruise line employee. [It's] just sad. Yes [it's] just another thing to worry about. If it happens once it can happen again. I am serious about checking under the bed and sink each time we enter the cabin."

Thisguylikestocruise commented that the situation is going to give him "nightmares," while Sunshine3601 claimed that it was "creepy." Pochi Hanaki went as far as to compare it to a "horror movie." 

User Gilley shared similar sentiments as Link99. As posted on a Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum, they claim that they'll be "...taking a good look at every inch of [their] cabin moving forward," going so far as to potentially even flip the mattress. 

Despite ONECRUISER'S claim that "...statistically, [it's] more likely [to] get stuck by lightning or fall overboard twice," other users say that it's still unsettling, especially if it were to happen to your wife, daughter, granddaughter, husband, son, or grandson. 

Bead Pirate shares that their RAVIAD Detector gives them great peace of mind while on vacation

In fact, they claim that the detector, which can be purchased on Amazon for around $50, has helped them locate both microphones and hidden cameras in rental housing. 

"We throw it in the suitcase whenever we travel land/sea/air does not matter. Takes 2 minutes to scan a room or can do a house in 5 minutes. Great peace of mind...," they said. 

All you have to do is turn the device on and walk around the perimeter of the room, as well as near any furniture. 

This is the second time in the past year that someone onboard a Royal Caribbean ship has been charged with hiding cameras

In May 2023, Jeremy Froias was arrested in Puerto Rico while sailing onboard Harmony of the Seas and charged with video voyeurism and attempted possession of child exploration material, according to court documents. 

Froias allegedly placed a Wi-Fi camera in a public restroom, as well as on the top deck between one of the FlowRider simulators and a bar. The following day, another passenger spotted the camera and told the crew. 

Harmony's security took possession of the camera and found hours' worth of video files on a memory card containing footage of Frois hiding the camera. More than 150 people, including around 40 children, were present in the videos. 

While these instances are rare, they're a great reminder to be vigilant while on your cruise. Despite being safe, you should never let your guard down, and if something seems off, don't be afraid to report it to the ship's staff for further investigation. 

Read more: Things that can get you kicked off a cruise ship in an instant

A cruise is a great vacation, but how do you plan a cruise for the first time? This isn't a simple task because of how confusing it can be navigating the myriad of options you have along the way.

Shore excursions, drink packages, stateroom types, and dinner choices are just a few of the possibilities, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the entire process.

The good news is that planning a great cruise isn't difficult, but it does take a little bit of extra time to get it right.

I've taken over 70 cruises and reached the top tier of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, so I have plenty of insight into what goes into planning a cruise.

From how to budget to booking, here's how to plan a cruise.

Planning a cruise for the first time

Before you pick a ship or destination, it makes sense to figure out your budget and time off.

Cruises come with all sorts of prices and lengths. You could do a quick weekend cruise or a lengthy transatlantic. And you'll have to pick the right cabin for your family.  

It makes the most sense to come up with a vacation budget for cost and time off from your daily obligations.

Your cruise budget needs to account for these costs:

• Cruise fare
• Taxes and port fees
• Gratuities
• Shore excursions
• Onboard spending (drinks, wifi, spa, etc.)
• Transportation to/from the cruise ship (hotel, airfare, rental car)

There's more, but those are the big costs you can expect. The cruise fare, airfare, shore excursions and onboard spending are likely the highest costs, in that order.

I think most families have a budget in mind when they plan any vacation, so having that number in your head will help ensure you are tallying up costs before committing to something.

A recurring theme of this post is the importance of using a good travel agent to help plan this with you. If you're thinking, "How could I realistically estimate costs if I've never cruised before?" then this is when a travel agent comes in handy. 

Read more: The best ways to book a cruise

My advice is to jot down prices along the way to ensure you're in the ballpark of your vacation budget.

The other component is going to be your time. If you only have 3 days off of work, that will greatly limit which sailings you can choose. Likewise, a week of vacation time versus two weeks will alter your choices.

If you're flexible with your time, then you should consider the itinerary and what stands out to you the most.

Be sure to factor in how long it will take you to get to your cruise port. If you can drive to your embarkation city, that means less time in transit. But if you need to fly to reach your cruise ship, that will take up at least an extra day of your time. 

Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise

Decide how long of a cruise to take

Now that you know how much money you have to spend, you will want to figure out how long of a cruise to take.

If this is your first cruise, I recommend going on a five to seven night sailing on an Icon, Oasis or Quantum Class ship. 

Plus, Icon Class and Oasis Class ships have the latest and greatest features across the fleet. This includes Central Park, a rock-climbing wall, surf simulators, and water slides. It has the most for families to do, and you're not compromising on what's available to do.

Quantum Class ships have their own assortment of signature areas and activities, such as North Star, SeaPlex, sky diving simulator, rock walls, and excellent youth programs.

The problem with a short cruise is they go by so quickly and for someone new to cruising, it may not provide enough time on ship or on shore to really get a sense of it all. Moreover, on a per-night basis, the cost of a cruise tends to be cheaper the longer the sailing. 

Choose a cruise ship

Royal Caribbean has cruise ships that vary in size, things to do onboard, and where you can go in the world.

These ships are not just built to be big, rather, they are built to be large enough to house all the really cool adventures that await you. Royal Caribbean has built its ships bigger and bigger to offer more and more to its guests.

But before you pick a ship at random, you'll need to think about where you want to go. Cruise ships are deployed to a region of the world for at least a few months at a time. 

European and Alaska cruises run in the summer months, while the Caribbean is a year-round destination. Depending on which region you want to visit along with which month of the year you want to cruise, there will be a subset of Royal Caribbean's fleet you can pick from.

The new Icon Class cruise ships sail to the Caribbean exclusively and are the newest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. These ships are aimed primarily at young families, and have a water park, many restaurant choices, and more cabins designed for five or more passengers than ever before. Icon of the Seas started cruising in January 2024 from Miami to the eastern and western Caribbean. Star of the Seas will enter service from Port Canaveral in 2025.

Oasis Class ships are giant ships that have long been the standard for what a family vacation is all about. Each of the Oasis class ships has 7 distinct neighborhoods that have their own look and feel. The neighborhood concept makes getting around easier because areas of the ship do not blend into each other.

In fact, first time cruisers might find the largest and newest Royal Caribbean ships to be an ideal pick because they offer the latest innovations, entertainment, technology and choices.

The Quantum class ships are also quite new, but not quite as large as the Oasis class ships. It can be argued that Quantum class ships were designed with first time cruisers in mind. Just like the Oasis class ships, the Quantum class ships offer a number of Royal Caribbean advancements and some of the finest dining and entertainment at sea.

The Voyager and Freedom class ships are slightly smaller, but offer an amazing value for large ships. They are also dispersed more widely than their larger cousins, and still offer a lot to see and do onboard. Many Royal Caribbean veterans love the Voyager and Freedom class ships for their well-proportioned size, dining choices and activities onboard.

The "sweet spot" of Royal Caribbean pricing tends to fall right in with the Voyager and Freedom class ships because the newer ships have drawn much of the attention, and the other ship's premium pricing means there are some really good deals to be found.

Radiance and Vision class ships make up the smallest ships in the fleet, but what they lack in size, they make up for in port variety, great value and beauty onboard.

While the small ships lack surf simulators and bumper cars, they make up for it in a classic cruise experience and lower price. These smaller ships can get to ports of call that larger ships cannot, as well as offer a more intimate experience in relationship with your fellow guests. 

Many people ask me what is the worst Royal Caribbean cruise ship, but the reality is every ship has its merits, so it is really a question of what do you want the ship to have onboard, and does the ship you are considering have that.

Choose a cabin

Selecting a stateroom is important because it's where you'll spend a lot of time there and don't want to regret the choice every day.

There are five primary types of cruise cabins.

• Interior cabins
• Oceanview cabins
• Balcony cabins
• Junior Suites
• Suites

Balcony rooms are the most popular category, with most ships offering more balcony cabins than any other type of room.

Royal Caribbean prices its cabins based on double occupancy, which means even if you want to sail alone, you're going to end up paying double.

When choosing your cabin, you'll have two cruise rates to pick between: refundable cruise fare and non-refundable cruise fare.

Refundable cruise fare will cost more, but allow you to get a full cash refund if you decide to cancel or change plans before the final payment date.

Non-refundable cruise fare will save money on the total cost, but there is a change fee if you cancel or swap to a different sailing.

More than likely which cabin you want to book will depend on your budget, how many people are traveling with you, and personal preferences.

Book your cruise

There are three ways to book a cruise: directly with the cruise line, using a travel agent, or going to an online travel site.

There are advantages to each choice, but I think everyone should book with a good travel agent. There are so many factors to consider, and an agent that has years of experience booking cruises can make this so much easier.

Most travel agents specializing in Royal Caribbean are "no fee" agencies, which means it costs you absolutely nothing extra to book the cruise reservation from them (Royal Caribbean pays the travel agent a commission). Here is one such recommended travel agency that specializes in Royal Caribbean. If you are not convinced using a free travel agency that is recommended by Royal Caribbean is right for you, read our post discussing the benefits they offer.

You need to not only pick a ship and date, but also figure out which cabin to book, refundable or non-refundable deposit, which dinner option to book, gratuities, and so much more.

The biggest point of failure for new cruisers is making a mistake in the booking process and regretting it later.

There's nothing wrong with price shopping and seeing what deals you can find. Just make sure you're comparing apples to apples, and consider fees and insurance.

Royal Caribbean cruise checklist

There's a lot that goes into planning your first cruise, and it's hardly a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on who you are cruising with, where you are going, and the types of ship or cabin you pick, the planning process can differ greatly.

However, there are some basics that are universal to the planning process, so I wanted to provide an easy-to-follow list of what to verify as you move along in the process.

☐ Establish a budget

☐ Decide on a cruise length

☐ Choose which region you want to cruise to

☐ Choose a ship

☐ Choose a cabin

☐ Book your cruise

☐ Consider travel insurance

☐ Book airfare, hotel, and rental car

☐ Research and book shore excursions

☐ Check-in for the cruise 45 days before sailing

☐ Make a reminder to book entertainment and activities before the cruise (30 days before the cruise on Quantum, Oasis, or Icon Class ships)

Equally important are things you bring with you on a cruise. There are cruise essentials, travel documents, and clothing that you'll want to bring.

Read more: Royal Caribbean packing list

Get the RCB Cruise Academy Pro course

Feeling overwhelmed with how much information there is to plan a cruise? We have you covered with Cruise Academy PRO, which is our brand-new online course. It helps you plan your first cruise like you've already been on fifty cruises!

When you buy the course, you'll get unlimited access to our step-by-step guide to planning a cruise vacation with all the important information, tips, and advice provided in easy-to-understand video courses.

There are over 50 lessons that have the BEST tips, tricks, info, and advice for you to help you enjoy every minute of your cruise. We’ve broken down each step, so you don't have to dig for the right article, video, or forum post.

We offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied, and it’s a digital course, which means you’ll get it INSTANTLY and can start planning immediately!

Get the Cruise Academy Pro course HERE!

First time Royal Caribbean cruise tips

If you can avoid common pitfalls of taking your first Royal Caribbean cruise, then you'll likely set yourself up for a great first sailing.

We've shared lots of cruise tips so you can avoid unfortunate rookie mistakes, and I wanted to highlight some important considerations if you're brand new to Royal Caribbean.

Avoid really long or short cruises

There are a few types of cruises I would steer clear any first time cruiser from to avoid disappointment.

A transatlantic or repositioning cruise is definitely not a good fit for someone taking their first Royal Caribbean cruise. These sailings often have great daily rates, but they're very long sailings with lots of sea days, and that could be simply too much for a cruiser.

Not to mention the fact cruises across the ocean tend to encounter rougher seas, and that means a higher chance of getting seasick.

In addition, skip a short cruise that is less than five nights long.

Three and four night cruises may seem attractive as a first sailing, but you don't have enough time to experience everything. It's a rushed experience, and I doubt you'll feel relaxed. Plus, short cruises attract more of a party atmosphere, which is usually not what a lot of people want on their cruise vacation.

Avoid older ships

Purely as a first time cruiser, I wouldn't recommend booking a cruise on an older ship. 

Simply put, older ships don't offer nearly as much to do onboard as newer ships, and I think there's a higher chance it won't meet a new cruiser's expectations.

Moreover, older ships lack water slides and as many activities, which could make them a poor candidate for a family.

Read more: First time cruise tips for Royal Caribbean

Don't skip travel insurance

It may seem like buying travel insurance for your trip is an unnecessary cost, but it's worth every penny in the scenario you need it.

Travel insurance is more than just "extra health insurance". It's protection in unforeseen situations where it's really no one's fault, but you're stuck with extra costs. Travel delays, accidental injuries in port, car rental damage, or altered itineraries are all scenarios where travel insurance could protect you.

Drink packages are attractive but expensive

I get so many questions if a Royal Caribbean drink package is worth it, and the answer is it definitely can be under the right situation.

Beverage packages are not cheap, but if you can drink enough every day, then they can save money. Remember, how you drink on vacation is different than at home or at a restaurant.

The decision to buy one is not easy, but definitely pre-purchase one rather than waiting to book it onboard to save a lot of money.

Download the Royal Caribbean app and check-in early

The Royal Caribbean app is super helpful, so install it before your cruise.  

Better yet, do the online check-in in the app up to 45 days before your cruise sails to ensure you have the fastest possible boarding process.

The two newest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet are Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Both ships make an excellent vacation choice, but how do they compare to one another?

The most obvious difference between these two ships is that they belong to two different ship classes. All Royal Caribbean cruise ships belong to one of seven classes of ships, each of which has a varied layout and diverse onboard offerings.

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Icon Class, whereas Wonder of the Seas is the sixth Oasis Class ship. While the two ships share many similarities, including water slides, an ice-skating rink, and modern accommodations, there are quite a few ways in which the vessels differ from one another.

Let’s take a look at Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas to see how these ships compare.

Ship Size

Icon of the Seas is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. She took the record away from Wonder of the Seas, who had held the title for around two years. Icon of the Seas is not drastically larger than Oasis Class ships, but the extra space onboard provides even more room for activities and amenities.

Here’s how these two vessels size up:

Dining & Bars

Food is an integral part to any cruise vacation, and rest assured, you won’t go hungry on either vessel. Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas have over a dozen dining venues—both complimentary and specialty.

While the two ships share several restaurants, including the Main Dining Room and Sorrento’s Pizza, they each offer different options, too.

Here are the restaurants found on Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas:

Many of the dining venues found on both ships are tried and true favorites, such as Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. Others, however, offer unique dining experiences, like the whimsical-themed Wonderland on Wonder of the Seas or food hall concept at Icon's AquaDome Market.

Icon of the Seas saw the addition of over a dozen new dining venues, including Celebration Table, a private dining experience available to book for special occasions with friends and family.

Related: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Needless to say, whether or not you plan to dine at only complimentary restaurants or splurge on specialty dining, you’ll find more than enough food to try on either ship.

Additionally, Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas have no shortage of bars and lounges. From sipping a cocktail on the pool deck to enjoying a glass of wine before a show, it’s convenient to find a drink anywhere onboard.

Here are the bar and lounge venues found on Icon and Wonder of the Seas:

Pool Deck

The upper decks of both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are filled with pool spaces and onboard thrills, along with a selection of dining and bar venues. You can’t go wrong with spending a day on the pool deck on either ship, but there are a few differences between the two to be aware of.

First, Icon of the Seas’ pool deck is three decks high, and it features four pools, including the largest pool at sea, the Royal Bay pool, along with Swim & Tonic, the first swim-up bar at sea. In addition, there are two infinity pools—Cloud 17 and The Cove pool—which provide unmatched views of the ocean.

Wonder of the Seas has three main pools along with Splashaway Bay, an aqua park for kids, but you will not find infinity pools or a swim-up bar on the ship.

Related: 6 things to know before you book Wonder of the Seas

One of the major differences between Icon and Wonder is the adults-only pool area. On Wonder of the Seas is a traditional adults-only Solarium, which is fully enclosed, climate-controlled, and located in the front of the ship.

Icon of the Seas does not have a Solarium. Instead, you’ll find The Hideaway, an adults-only pool neighborhood inspired by Las Vegas pool parties.

While the area is fully outdoors and lacks shade, it is, undoubtedly, a trendy spot to hangout.

As far as activities, both ships have water slides, a sports court, and mini golf course on the upper decks. Wonder of the Seas, however, only has three water slides, whereas Icon of the Seas has six slides at the Category 6 Waterpark, which is complimentary to all guests.

Icon of the Seas also features Crown’s Edge, an obstacle course and zip line attraction, whereas Wonder of the Seas has the Ultimate Abyss, a dry-slide reaching speeds of nine miles per hour.

Regardless of which ship you choose, either will provide ample opportunities to enjoy some time in the sun.

Central Park

One of the most popular neighborhoods on Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas is Central Park, an open-air park in the middle of the vessels. With lush greenery, shops, restaurants, and bars, it’s no surprise this area is a hit with guests onboard.

However, there are a few key differences between Central Park on the two ships.

Both ships have several specialty restaurants within the park, with Wonder of the Seas offering steaks at Chops Grille, upscale cuisine at 150 Central Park, and Italian delights at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.

Icon of the Seas also has Chops Grille in Central Park, but Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is found in the Royal Promenade instead. In its place is Izumi in the Park, the first-ever Izumi Sushi and Hibachi location in Central Park.

Not only does Izumi in the Park feature indoor seating for both sushi and teppanyaki, but the restaurant also offers a walk-up window where guests can purchase grab-and-go sushi, gyoza, and other Japanese favorites.

Related: Izumi in the Park review on Icon of the Seas

And while guests won’t find the fan-favorite 150 Central Park on Icon of the Seas, they can enjoy an 8-course meal at the nearby Empire Supper Club instead, which includes live jazz music.

In terms of bars, guests will love the new Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues venue on Icon of the Seas, which offers live soul and jazz tunes each evening in a classy setting. Wonder of the Seas does not have a jazz bar; instead, guests will find Giovanni’s Wine Bar in its place. While this bar does not feature live music, musicians may occasionally perform in the park during the evening.

Trellis Bar, another bar within the park, also differs between the two ships. The bar has far more seating on Icon of the Seas compared to Wonder of the Seas, and it also has its own food menu, although these dishes come with an extra cost.

Despite these differences, the overall ambiance of Central Park on either ship remains similar. The park provides a quiet escape away from the hustle and bustle elsewhere onboard, whether you're enjoying a relaxed lunch at Park Cafe or simply taking a stroll through the trees.

Surfside vs The Boardwalk

In addition to Central Park, you’ll find another open-air neighborhood at the aft of both Icon and Wonder of the Seas. This area is referred to as the Surfside neighborhood on Icon of the Seas and The Boardwalk on Wonder of the Seas.

While these neighborhoods may look similar at first glance, they could not be more different from one another. Both neighborhoods are family-focused, but Icon of the Seas takes this focus up a notch.

On Wonder of the Seas, The Boardwalk caters to all ages. Sure, kids will love the neighborhood’s carousel, arcade, rock climbing wall, Johnny Rockets location, and candy store, but adults will appreciate Playmakers Sports Bar and the AquaTheater entertainment venue.

On Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean wanted to make Surfside the ultimate destination for families, rather than just a place for families to stop by throughout the day.

Related: Icon of the Seas Surfside neighborhood: What to expect

New kid-friendly complimentary dining venues were added—Surfside Eatery and Surfside Bites—along with the new specialty restaurant Pier 7, where kids under 12 eat for free. Additionally, the neighborhood features Splashaway Bay and an aft-facing infinity pool, along with The Lemon Post, a new bar with mommy-and-me cocktails and mocktails.

Not only that, but Surfside is located just above Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean kids programming center, which helps keep most family-focused areas in one place.

Royal Promenade

The Royal Promenade is the hub of any Royal Caribbean ship. It has dozens of areas to explore, from restaurants to retail stores, lounges, and cafes. It’s an area most guests frequent every day of the cruise. While Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas both have a Royal Promenade, there are a few differences between the two.

Icon’s Royal Promenade is more expansive than Wonder’s, as it fully wraps around two decks. On Wonder of the Seas, guests can only walk the entire length of the promenade on one deck. This leads to more congestion as passengers go from Point A to Point B onboard.

Another difference is The Pearl. It’s hard to miss the massive, shining structure—known as The Pearl—upon boarding Icon of the Seas. The Pearl is at the forefront of the ship’s Royal Promenade, functioning not only as a structural component of the ship, but also to provide that "WOW!" factor.

Near The Pearl is Pearl Café, Icon’s coffee shop, which is a major upgrade from Cafe Promenade found on Wonder of the Seas. Pearl Café features a greater variety of snack options compared to the latter, and it also offers specialty coffee beverages and beautiful ocean views from the cafe’s 36-foot high windows.

Related: 8 things I love about Icon of the Seas (and 3 I didn't)

Both Royal Promenades feature popular bars including an English-style pub, Boleros Latin bar, and karaoke venue. Icon of the Seas has even more bars, though, including the new Dueling Pianos Bar, where guests can watch live pianists, and the 1400 Lobby Bar.

Ocean views are more accessible in Icon of the Seas’ Royal Promenade as well. The neighborhood has a large amount of windows, whereas there are no ocean views from the area on Wonder.

Either ship’s Royal Promenade is sure to be a dynamic place to spend your evenings while cruising, whether you’re listening to live acoustic music at the pub, shopping for a new souvenir, or people-watching from one of the Promenade’s many seating areas.

Entertainment

Even though all Royal Caribbean ships offer impressive entertainment options, production shows on the fleet’s newest ships go above and beyond the rest. Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas offer spectacular entertainment choices—here are the differences to note.

Perhaps the most major entertainment difference between the two ships is the AquaTheater. Oasis Class ships, including Wonder of the Seas, are known for their outdoor AquaTheater, where guests can witness unique performances combining high diving, synchronized swimming, and acrobats paired with high-energy music.

On Icon of the Seas, the AquaTheater was moved indoors to the AquaDome, a multi-deck high dome placed atop the vessel. The AquaDome is also home to The Overlook, an indoor lounge with breathtaking ocean views, along with several dining venues and bars. At the forefront of the neighborhood, though, is the performance venue.

Both ships also have an ice-skating rink, with Absolute Zero found on Icon of the Seas and Studio B on Wonder of the Seas. Guests can enjoy performances from professional figure skaters on either ship, although the circular rink on Icon of the Seas is larger than the rectangular rink on Wonder of the Seas.

Another major difference is in the Royal Theater, as Icon of the Seas features a 90-minute Broadway production, The Wizard of Oz, while Wonder of the Seas does not. In lieu of a Broadway show, passengers on Wonder of the Seas can enjoy The Effectors II, a Royal Caribbean original production, along with Voices, an a capella group.

Aside from signature production shows, each ship boasts a wide array of other entertainment options, including comedy shows, game shows, and live bands.

These are the signature production shows on Wonder and Icon of the Seas:

Cabins

There are 28 categories of cabins to book on Icon of the Seas, ranging from the most basic interior cabin to lavish suites.

All things considered, the standard cabins on Icon of the Seas are similar to those on Wonder of the Seas. Every cabin includes a king-sized bed, private bathroom, chair or couch, desk/vanity, television, and storage space in closets and drawers.

Nonetheless, there are a few differences to note between the two ships.

First, Icon of the Seas has more cabins that can accommodate more than two guests. 82% of cabins on Icon of the Seas can accommodate three or more guests, which is ideal for such a family-focused ship.

This is why, while Wonder of the Seas technically has more cabins onboard, Icon of the Seas can accommodate more passengers at full capacity.

Secondly, there are more sub-categories of rooms within each category. Not only can you book an interior cabin on Icon, for instance, but you can book a Spacious Interior cabin, too, which offers a slightly different layout with additional storage space.

Likewise, infinite balcony cabins launched on the ship, which differ from a traditional balcony in that the balcony is part of your overall living space instead of a separate outdoor area. The goal of these balconies is to provide additional living space to guests while still having access to a private outdoor veranda.

For a deeper look into cabins onboard, check out the following cabin tours:

• Room tour: Icon of the Seas balcony cabin
• Room tour: Icon of the Seas Central Park infinite balcony cabin
• Room tour: Wonder of the Seas interior cabin

As another plus, Royal Caribbean introduced destination elevators with Icon of the Seas. These “smart” elevators get passengers to their destination more quickly. To use the elevators, guests press a button indicating the deck of their destination while they are still in the elevator lobby.

Passengers are then assigned an elevator with other passengers traveling to that deck, which is much more efficient than having several elevators stop at every floor.

Suite Experience

Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are wonderful ship options for those booking a suite on Royal Caribbean. Not only does each vessel boast an array of suite categories, but both ships have a dedicated Suite Neighborhood exclusive to suite guests.

Everything from basic Junior Suites to multi-story, luxurious cabins are found on either ship. In total, there are 174 suites on Wonder of the Seas and 179 suites on Icon of the Seas. Icon of the Seas features more suite categories than Wonder, which include suites such as the Sunset Junior Suite and Icon Loft Suite.

Related: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

The suite neighborhood on either ship has a pool, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and Suite Lounge. Guests should note that Wonder of the Seas has a much larger Suite Lounge, though, and that Icon of the Seas has The Grove, a Mediterranean grab-and-go dining venue that is not found on Wonder.

Suite guests on both ships will enjoy the amenities of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class, which is broken into three tiers: Sea, Sky, and Star Class. Each tier comes with its own host of benefits, with the most exclusive Star Class offering benefits such as complimentary specialty dining and the services of a Royal Genie.

Bottom Line

Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are, without a doubt, the cream of the crop in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Either vessel provides the best of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer, including the newest restaurants, most modern staterooms, and state-of-the-art entertainment.

There is no wrong choice when deciding between the two ships for your cruise vacation; it all comes down to preference. Comparing the two ships’ entertainment offerings, dining venues, cabin categories, and, of course, price, will help you decide which to pick for your vacation.

It also helps to watch a ship tour of each vessel, which are found on our YouTube channel:

• Wonder of the Seas Full Cruise Ship Tour
• Icon of the Seas Full Cruise Ship Tour

On many Royal Caribbean cruise ships, you’ll have the opportunity to try boogie boarding or surfing right onboard.

Picture yourself standing tall on rushing waves, surfing over a dark blue sea.

Royal Caribbean is the only cruise line to offer a surf simulator like this.

The FlowRider is a stand-alone surfing simulator with 30,000 gallons of water gushing over a curved surface.

Whether you’re an experienced surfer, or riding the board is something you’ve always wanted to try, you’ll be able to use the FlowRider for free on your cruise.

Essentially, there are two different activities you could try on the FlowRider.

You can boogie board, which is just riding lying down, with your stomach on the board.

Once you gain more experience, then you can begin to stand up and start surfing the waves with your feet planted on the board. This is the traditional surfing technique.

Royal Caribbean has different requirements for each step of the activity.

What is the FlowRider?

The FlowRider is a surf simulator that quickly pumps rushing water over a curved, thick vinyl material. Guests can get on a board in the middle and attempt to ride the strong waves.

The FlowRider was originally created as a land attraction but has since combined with Royal Caribbean to bring the ride to cruise ships.

Royal Caribbean’s website states that using the FlowRider is an extreme sport with a high risk of injury. Falling in the wrong manner could result in serious injury to the head, neck, back, hips, arms, and legs.

You will be required to stretch, watch safety videos, and sign a waiver before riding. 

Royal Caribbean crew members take your safety very seriously when it comes to using the FlowRider.

The FlowRider is located on the following ships:

• Adventure of the Seas
• Allure of the Seas
• Anthem of the Seas
• Explorer of the Seas
• Freedom of the Seas
• Harmony of the Seas
• Icon of the Seas
• Independence of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas
• Mariner of the Seas
• Navigator of the Seas
• Oasis of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Ovation of the Seas
• Quantum of the Seas
• Spectrum of the Seas
• Symphony of the Seas
• Utopia of the Seas
• Voyager of the Seas
• Wonder of the Seas

Oasis Class ships (except Utopia and Wonder of the Seas) have two FlowRiders onboard. It is usually located on the aft of the ship on the highest deck.

How much does the FlowRider cost?

The FlowRider comes free of charge with your cruise fare.

However, you will have to wait in line with other guests to be allowed a turn. The lines can stretch on for quite some time, so keep in mind that the earlier you arrive, the shorter the line will be. 

For example, lines are shortest on embarkation day and early in the morning. The lines will be longest on sea days and in the afternoon or evening.

Private lessons, however, cost extra. 

For a 1-hour lesson, you can expect to pay $69 per person. These are group lessons, with a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 8 people.

Read more: First ever FlowRider professional lessons offered on Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas

During this group lesson, staff will help you learn to properly stand up on the board and balance while on top of a wave.

You also have the option to rent the FlowRider area for 1 hour, for $345 total. Advanced riders who want more time on the waves can book this option.

Guests wanting a private lesson and access to the area for 1 hour can pay $552 total. This allows you to rent out the wave area and receive coaching with your entire group.

What are the restrictions for using the FlowRider?

Guests need to be at least 6 years old to ride the FlowRiders. Ages 12 and under must also be accompanied by an adult.

Guests must also be at least 52 inches tall to use the bodyboard for Boogie boarding and 58 inches tall to use the flowboard for surfing. 

No footwear, jewelry, watches, goggles, or cameras are allowed.

We recommend that guests wear tight clothing or cover-ups over their swimsuits. Remember that this is a high-energy activity in the waves, so swimtops are likely to come loose.

Royal Caribbean provides surfboards for the experience, but you can bring your own board if it is one specifically made for FlowRiders. If you do, you will be required to sign a board waiver and staff will inspect it for any damage.

Additionally, you can perform any surf tricks you like, but the board must remain between you and the water.

How can I surf on the FlowRider?

If you’re new to the FlowRider, you’ll have to start by boogie boarding. You will lie flat on your stomach and try to balance on the waves.

Look for the times on your Cruise Compass labeled “Boogie Boarding” or “Mixed Waves.”

You will need to first complete the safety briefing and sign a waiver. Once signed, staff will give you a blue bracelet that signifies you are ready to ride.

During these open sessions, everyone who completes the waiver will be given a wristband and cleared for their first attempt.

You can, of course, just lay on your stomach and ride the waves. Try to keep your elbows tucked in and your legs in the water.

However, if you want to try traditional surfing, you can advance to the next step of trying to stand up.

You can let staff know that you’re ready to try standing up. On your turn, you will usually receive two attempts to try and stand up, balancing on the powerful waves.

These two attempts are per day! Staff do not allow people to get back in line and keep trying.

For guest safety, Royal Caribbean has careful rules about who is allowed to continue stand-up surfing. (These are adjusted often, and not clearly posted anywhere.)

Read more: I learned how to surf on a weekend cruise. Here is my advice if you want to try it too

If you aren’t able to stand up on the board during your try and want to attempt stand-up surfing, this is where you may benefit from one of those group lessons. 

During your dedicated hour, staff will make sure you receive tips and coaching on how to balance on the board.

Usually, you will exit this lesson with a white wristband, denoting that you are a safe, advanced FlowRider.

The most common criteria are that you can start by standing up on the board, pushing yourself away from the wall, and remaining steady on the waves.

The staff use their own discretion to make sure you will be able to surf safely.

Once you are an advanced FlowRider, you can surf during “Mixed Waves” or “Advanced Stand Up Surfing.”

This is a great opportunity because once you have your wristband you can go to the advanced sessions, getting more time on the board away from all the newbies.

For those attempting surfing for the first time, put all of your weight on your back foot. Stand up straight with an open chest, and keep both feet planted on the board. 

Frequently asked questions

Are reservations required for the FlowRider?

No, reservations are not required. For complimentary usage, you can wait in line with other guests.

If you are renting a private lesson, you can speak to staff about reserving time on the FlowRider at an extra cost.

Does the FlowRider cost extra?

No, using the FlowEider does not cost extra!

However, if you want to book private lessons, prices start at $69 an hour.

What time is the FlowRider open?

Times offered usually vary by ship. Check the Royal Caribbean app or Cruise Compass to see what times are offered.

Remember that you can boogie board during “Boogie Boarding” and “Mixed Wave.” You can surf during “Mixed Wave” and “Advanced Surfing.”

How does a cruise ship rotate 9,000 passengers and 20 trucks of provisions over the course of 8 hours?

If you’ve ever taken a cruise before, you might find yourself wondering how the ship gets ready for a sailing.

Most cruises happen back-to-back, meaning passengers disembark on the same day new passengers arrive.

Between sailings, cruise ships have a single “turnaround day,” when the guests from the previous sailing are disembarking and the new guests are entering.

At a Captain's Corner event on a recent Anthem of the Seas cruise, a passenger asked how staff prepare for all the logistics of a turnaround day.

Captain’s Corner is an informal Q&A, usually held with the ship’s captain, activities director, and hotel director. 

Guests can pose all their pressing questions, and have them answered directly.

The author with Captain Srecko Ban.

This 2024 Captain’s Corner event was attended by Captain Srecko Ban, hotel director Adrian Gheorghe, and cruise activities director Katie Knowles.

What goes on behind the scenes to get all the logistics in place?

The author with hotel director Adrian Gheorghe.

A guest asked what goes on behind the scenes to get the ship ready for sailing. 

“It seems like a huge undertaking with all the logistics to get stuff onboard,” they said. 

Anthem of the Seas’ hotel director, Adrian Gheorghe, answered this question. 

Hailing from Romania, he started out as a cleaner and worked his way up through guest services over the past 21.

Gheorghe has served as Anthem’s hotel director for the past 6 years.

Anthem of the Seas is a large Quantum Class ship, measuring 1,138 feet in length, 136 feet in width, and 168,367 gross tons. 

“Originally, when we started building our big, big ships, the discussion was around how many guests we [can] have on board our ship,” Gheorghe said.

Anthem is capable of holding 4,905 passengers and 1,500 crew members.

The ship has 2,090 staterooms and 16 guest decks, so that’s a lot of space to prepare for a sailing!

“But it’s all about how you never feel that you’re sharing with so many guests onboard.”

Gheorghe explained that the ships are designed so that you never feel overwhelmed by the amount of other people onboard. 

Through various spaces and lines, guests are moved around so that there are never too many people in one area at a time.

On turnaround day, you’d never guess that almost 9,000 passengers are rotating off and on the cruise ship!

Read more: What's the earliest time I can get off my cruise ship when it's over?

Cruise ships go straight from one cruise to the next 

Gheorghe said that turn-around day takes place over 8 hours, over which the cruise ship rotates about 9,000 passengers.

During this time period, the ship’s staff only have about one to 1.5 hours without guests onboard. 

It is “quite an intense operation.”

Several strategies ensure that guests aren’t packed together.

On disembarkation day, you’ll notice that departure times are usually very staggered.

Royal Caribbean divides guests into groups, depending on whether they are bringing luggage with them or receiving luggage assistance. 

Guests who are bringing their luggage off themselves usually receive the earliest disembarkation time, starting around 7:30 A.M.

With over 50 different groups departing at different times, Royal Caribbean can stagger guests and prevent a mass departure of almost 5,000 people at once.

Read more: 8 reasons to get off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day

The cruise line also asks guests to wait for their departure out of the stateroom, so that staff has time to clean and get ready for the next guests.

On embarkation day, the ship arrives at port very early in the morning and usually allows guests to enter the cruise terminal around 10 A.M.

Arrivals into the ship are also staggered over 3-4 hours, usually starting around 11 A.M.

Guests who arrive earlier than their scheduled arrival time may be turned away. This ensures that guests don’t arrive at the cruise terminal or enter the ship all at once.

Staterooms are usually opened for incoming guests at about 1 P.M. on embarkation day, allowing enough time for staff to thoroughly clean and prepare every cabin.

Read more: 15 Royal Caribbean boarding process tips for a fast embarkation

The ship also needs new provisions loaded on

Gheorghe called turnaround day “one of our most intense experiences,” saying that it’s a huge accomplishment that crew members can make the day move along efficiently.

“Over the years, we learned the secrets of how to be effective in rotating the ship and preparing it for our guests.” 

Gheorghe explained that they work in four major steps, prioritizing preparation in order of which areas guests see first.

First, they start by preparing the main public areas like the pool decks and Royal Esplanade, making sure the spaces are empty and clear.

Then, the staff focuses on the staterooms: cleaning the room and bathroom and replacing linens, like sheets and towels. Everything is sanitized in preparation for the incoming guests.

Read more: 30 cruise ship embarkation day do’s and don’ts

The third focus is on back-of-the-house operations, loading trucks full of supplies and provisions.

The cruise ship will load all the supplies needed to operate over the length of the next sailing, such as provisions, alcohol, technical equipment, and supplies like toilet paper. 

A fact sheet passed out during the Captain’s Corner event had information on how many supplies Anthem of the Seas uses in a week.

In an average week, guests and crew members consume:

• 15,600 pounds of beef
• 16,000 pounds of chicken 
• 10,517 pounds of pork
• 1,800 pounds of lobster
• 11,000 pounds of seafood
• 4,000 pounds of salmon
• 86,400 fresh eggs

• 16,500 pounds of flour
• 3,500 pounds of sugar
• 1,500 pounds of coffee
• 45,000 pounds of fresh fruit
• 62,000 pounds of fresh vegetables
• 600 pounds of fresh berries

• 18,000 pounds of potatoes
• 8,000 gallons of ice cream
• 8,000 gallons of milk
• 5,800 pounds of cheese
• 10,200 bottles of beer
• 11,500 cans of soda
• 2,225 bottles of wine
• 175 bottles of whiskey
• 550 bottles of vodka
• 18,000 slices of pizza

Gheorghe said these provisions require delivery from 15 to 20 full trucks.

“Why is it that we always load booze first? Quality control. We have to open all the bottles and make sure they taste good,” he joked.

Lastly, staff loads all the luggage from the arriving guests. Luggage arrivals are also staggered, and delivery can stretch into the afternoon. 

Gheorghe shared that a high number of trolleys are moving the luggage, at the same time that cleaning, sanitation, and other preparation is going on.

Cruises from one port in 2024 will require you to use the Royal Caribbean app to check-in.

Royal Caribbean announced it will require app check-in only for cruises departing from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Traditionally, guests had the option to do check-in via the website, app, or even wait until they arrived at the cruise terminal.

With this new change, anyone booked on an Alaska cruise from Vancouver can check-in only with the Royal Caribbean app up to 45 days before departure or until 9 a.m. local time on the sailing date.

If a guest cannot check in via the app, they have the alternative option to check in once at the terminal.

The Royal Caribbean app has some functionalities for check-in that are not available on the website, including:

• Passport scanning to capture the details of your passport. You’ll still need to present your passport at the terminal, but the data entry is handled for you in the app.
• The ability to take or upload a photo of yourself, which is a security requirement before boarding.
• Reminders to complete a few quick health questions in the app before your cruise.

The news was conveyed to travel agents in a weekly email newsletter.

There was no explanation provided, other than stating, "When your clients check in on the app they spend less time in the terminal and more time on vacation."

At this time, no other cruise ports require the guest to use the Royal Caribbean app only for check-in.

The Royal Caribbean app is available in the Google Play and App Store as a free download.

Higher app prominence

Royal Caribbean's app has become more and more important to the guest experience.

Development of the app over the last few years has accelerated, as its role was first elevated due to a need to offer more contactless options as the cruise industry emerged from the industry shutdown of 2020-2021.

Since then, Royal Caribbean has seen its app as a way to improve the guest experience. Specifically, the app features are meant to expedite processes and simplify things.

Core functionality includes being able to browse ship activities, conduct the muster drill, and a guest-to-guest chat feature.

Royal Caribbean has quietly rolled out an express boarding option in Miami, but it requires the user to complete all the steps of check-in via the app, including scanning the passport.

Read more: The extra step you should take before your cruise for the fastest way on a ship

In 2020, the app was required for sailings from Singapore, but the app has never been required in other ports.

How to check-in with the Royal Caribbean app

Up to 45 days before your cruise begins is when you can start checking in for your cruise. 

Similar to checking in for a flight, the app asks for important travel information that is required in order to sail. By doing the check-in before the cruise, it saves time at the cruise terminal doing exactly the same thing.

To begin the check-in process, you just need to click the purple globe icon at the bottom of the app.

For each guest, there are three sections to complete:

1. Travel Info
2. Arrival Time
3. Health & Safety

Starting with Travel Info, you can use the drop-down arrow under "Scan your passport" to select the desired document type.

To scan the passport, the app will start the camera on your device. Aim the camera at the information page of the passport. Line up the bar on the screen with the bottom two lines of information of the passport. This is called the “Machine Readable Passport Zone” (MRZ).

You have the option to take a selfie photo with the app. You could skip it, but you'll then need to take the photo at the cruise terminal. Alternatively, you can return later in the app to upload a photo as well.

There is other required information, including your country of residence and where you were born.

You can also enter your Crown & Anchor Society loyalty number on this screen.

Following that, you will need to enter your home address, emergency contact information, and add a credit card for onboard expenses.

Section two allows you pick from an arrival time. This is when you can select a time to arrive to the cruise terminal on embarkation day.

The final section is to be completed within 24 hours of embarkation, and has a health questionnaire to fill out.

That's it! You'll have a SetSail pass at this point that you can use to check-in when it's time to go to the cruise terminal.

Royal Caribbean is ahead of schedule with its next new cruise ship and wants to get it in service faster.

Guests booked on the inaugural sailing of Utopia of the Seas were informed on Tuesday that there will be a new first sailing.

Inaugural sailings are a big deal to be on, as it's both a badge of honor to be able to be say you were onboard. Plus, they are a big celebration too.

The inaugural sailing was scheduled to be on July 22, 2024, but Royal Caribbean will be adding an extra voyage prior.

The new inaugural sailing is 3-night weekend cruise on July 19, 2024. Utopia will then continue with her previously scheduled sailings after, which would be the July 22 sailing.

Why the change? Royal Caribbean said in an email the new ship will be ready sooner, "Utopia of the Seas is ahead of schedule and arriving at Port Canaveral earlier than originally planned."

Anyone booked on the original inaugural sailing of Utopia of the Seas will have opportunity to move their booking to the new inaugural 3-Night Bahamas & Perfect Day Cruise on July 19.

How to move to the new sailing

If you were booked on the original inaugural and want to transfer to the new voyage, there are options available.

Royal Caribbean is offering guests the chance to move to the exact same stateroom currently booked – at no additional cost to you.

The cruise fare rate will be prorated for the change from a 4-night to a 3-night cruise, meaning, Royal Caribbean will provide a 1-day cruise fare refund. It's only available for changing to the new date.

If selected, the booking will be transferred to the new sail date by March 19th, 2024.

Otherwise, guests can remain on the July 22 sailing as booked.

Guests have until March 12th, 2024 to select the offer. If you are booked on the July 22 sailing and do absolutely nothing on your part, you'll remain on that sailing.

Moving to a weekend cruise for her inaugural

It's almost fitting that Utopia of the Seas is moving her inaugural to a 3-night weekend cruise, as that is the focus of the new ship.

Utopia will be Royal Caribbean's first new Oasis Class ship to start cruises with short 3- and 4-night cruises instead of 7-night cruises. It's a flip of the script for the cruise line, because usually older ships operate weekend cruises.

The change is a concerted effort to attract first-time cruisers, who are leery of going on any cruise ship for a week.

The idea is to offer short cruises on its newest hardware so that anyone who is considering a short cruise as their first sailing will see a clear delineation between what options are out there.

Read more: Five moves Royal Caribbean is making to overhaul its weekend cruise business for the future

Utopia will be the second new Royal Caribbean cruise ship to launch in 2024, following up on Icon of the Seas.

Icon has drawn a substantial amount of attention for being the biggest cruise ship in the world and ushering in a new category of vessel.

While Utopia is about 7% smaller than Icon, she is still packed with plenty for passengers to do to keep them busy.

On the top deck, you'll find three pool areas, an aqua park for kids, surf simulator, zip line, basketball court, and 295-foot dry slide down the back of the ship.

The Royal Railroad will feature a classic train motif that delivers a mixed reality experience. After prototyping the train car experience at Royal Caribbean's Miami headquarters, the team feels confident it will deliver an incredible new option for passengers.

Izumi has been moved up to Central Park, which is a first for the Oasis Class. Izumi will also have a new pickup window which allows quick grab and go offerings for guests.

Park Cafe will have a new evening terrace experience, which the cruise line hopes will invigorate evenings in this neighborhood.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar has been relocated into the deck 11 and 12 former Wonderland location.

Speaking of food, there will be a food truck on the pool deck, and a tiki bar on the Royal Promenade.

Read more: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Another inaugural cruise change

This is the second Royal Caribbean cruise ship to have her inaugural sailing change in just a week.

Last week Royal Caribbean announced the first sailing for Star of the Seas would be pushed back by two weeks.

Star of the Seas will be the second Icon Class ship and launch in 2025. Instead of her first cruise being on August 17, 2025, the new inaugural sailing was pushed back to August 31st, 2025.

The reason for the delay was not specified, other than noting, "after a review of the work that remains to be done, we’re unfortunately forced to delay the ship’s delivery date."

Just like Utopia, guests booked on the original inaugural cruise of Star of the Seas were given the chance to move to the new sailing with no penalty and cruise fare price protection.

We take our kids on a spring break cruise every year because it's not easy to find times of the year when the school calendar and mild Caribbean weather meet.

One of the top reasons we cruise on Royal Caribbean is the fact it's a family cruise line, and the experience is welcoming to kids as much as adults.  Plus, there's opportunities to enjoy time together, as well as time for just the adults.

When you hear the term, "spring break", you might think of a wild party, but Royal Caribbean's ships tend not to get that raucous.  Most of the college spring break groups end up on 4-night cruises because they are cheaper, and having experienced those cruises, it's a far cry from a week at Panama City beach.

Read more: Spring break cruise on Royal Caribbean

Nonetheless, don't expect your cruise ship to be empty, as plenty of families take advantage of the built-in time off from school to take their family on vacation. To be fair, all cruise ships sail full these days. The difference is how many other families will be onboard, along with spring breakers.

If you're taking a spring break cruise, here are a few strategies for navigating the crowds.

Take a longer cruise

In general, you can expect to find less families on longer sailings, including the spring break college kids. 

Most of the college spring break passengers will flock to 4-night cruises because they're short and cheaper than the 3-night cruises.

We've generally found the 7-night cruises to have less college kids than the short 3- and 4-night cruises.  You'll find more families on longer cruises, and that tends to have less of a party atmosphere.

If you really want to avoid the party scene, opt for pretty much any cruise longer than 7-nights during this time of year. Once you get to past a week, the average age tends to shift older because of the time off required is more than many families can afford to take.

Since the European cruise season hasn't started yet, you can find some Royal Caribbean ships offering longer cruises. There are 9, 10, and 11-night cruises available in some markets that have less families onboard, as well as spring breakers.

Look for deck chairs in quiet places

Sea days on any cruise are going to busy, but the pool party vibe is going to be present here the most.

If you want to enjoy time outdoors without the party, there are a few good alternative locations to seek.

For those that want to enjoy the sun, look for a deck chair on the pool deck towards the front of the ship. While most of the chairs are around the pool, if you walk forward on the upper pool deck, you can usually find plenty of empty chairs the more forward you walk.

The reason there are empty chairs at the front of the ship is because it's further away from the bars and pools. 

If you just want to be outdoors without any semblance of a party, grab a chair on the Promenade deck on deck 4 or 5 (depending on the ship you're on).  Keep in mind one side is reserved for smoking, so you can always go to the other side.

These are great spots to read, take a nap, or enjoy the ocean air.

Stay on the ship in port

Since I just recommended avoiding the pool deck, what if you want to be able to swim, splash and enjoy the water slides? Stay on the ship while you're in port.

Many passengers disembark their cruise ship on a port day, and that leaves the pool deck far emptier than on any sea day.

You'll usually have no shortage of deck chairs, space in the pools and hot tubs, and less noise overall.  In fact, the pool band tends not to play until later in the day.

Not only does staying on the ship while you're in port open up the pool deck, it also means avoiding the crowds in port.

It's not unusual for ports to have a lot of ships docked, especially Nassau, Cozumel, and St. Thomas. By staying on the ship, you can avoid the crowded ports, beaches, and shops.

Visiting ports of call is a major part of the cruise experience, but you could opt to pick one port to stay onboard for, and then get some pool deck time while still doing shore excursions elsewhere.

Traditional dining for simplicity

There's nothing wrong with eating at the Main Dining Room for dinner, especially if it makes planning meals easier.

Specialty restaurants on Royal Caribbean are a hot ticket. It seems like more people than ever are buying dining packages, and it's not uncommon for the best times to get booked up quickly.

I always advocate going to make restaurant reservations as soon as you get onboard the ship for those with a dining package, but you could simply forgo the dining package and stick to the Main Dining Room for a great dinner experience.

If you opt for this, pick traditional seating instead of My Time Dining to make everything easier on you. With traditional seating, you have the same table and dining time every night, so there's no extra footwork to do to get a reservation, and there's no waiting for a table when it's time to eat.

Alternatively, you could go to the Windjammer for dinner instead and keep it far more casual. Those sailing on Icon of the Seas for spring break will also have access to the Aquadome Market, which is a wonderful complimentary alternative to the Main Dining Room.

Good candidate for upgrading to a suite

If you'd rather throw money at the problem, then booking a cruise ship suite might make sense for a spring break cruise.

Besides having larger and more opulent cabins, suites come with nice perks that can side-step some of the issues raised earlier in this article. It's kind of like an expensive easy button for crowds.

Staying in a suite means you'll have reserved seating somewhere on the pool deck exclusively for suite guests. 

You'll also get complimentary drinks each evening in the Suite Lounge. On larger ships, there's even a restaurant exclusively for suite guests at Coastal Kitchen.

Read more: 8 advantages of booking a suite on your next cruise

Obviously booking a suite won't be cheap, so you're potentially trading crowds for a larger bill. But if you can afford it, staying in a suite provides access to areas of the ship other guests cannot get to, and spring breakers tend not to be found staying in suites.

This month, I sailed onboard Anthem of the Seas in the cheapest cabin possible. 

It turned out to be an interior virtual balcony room, with a high-definition screen.

Anthem of the Seas is a newer Quantum Class ship, originally launched in 2015.

She has 2,090 staterooms in total, able to hold over 4,000 passengers at double occupancy.

With 16 guest decks, Anthem is a large, comfortable ship great for families and cruisers looking for multiple activities. 

Anthem of the Seas provided a high-tech, comfortable cruise experience beyond my expectations.

For my cruise on Anthem, I booked the cheapest possible room through the guarantee cabin process.

The total for this 7-night cruise (including pre-paid gratuities) was $1914.38, which breaks down to about $137 per night, per person.

Royal Caribbean assigned me the cabin for a lower overall price.

However, this meant I wasn’t assigned the room until a few weeks before the cruise.

When I arrived onboard, I realized that I had been assigned a virtual balcony stateroom—my first time seeing this type of cabin.

A virtual balcony is a method cruise ships have introduced to bring an ocean view to windowless inside cabins. 

A high-definition, 80-inch screen replaces a window in the cabin, instead playing a live feed of the view outside. The screen shows you a real-time look at what is going on outside, almost as if you did have a balcony room.

Royal Caribbean first pioneered these cabins on Quantum of the Seas, Anthem’s sister in the Quantum Class.

Read more: 10 Awesome things to do on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas

I was excited to see the strong points of this stateroom category that I've never tried.

My stateroom was located on Deck 8 towards the front of the ship, a great middle location. This made it easy for me to walk down to the Royal Esplanade on Deck 5, or to take a quick elevator ride up to the Windjammer and pool area on Deck 14. 

Because Anthem's middle decks are all dedicated to guest cabins, my travel companion and I had a very quiet area to sleep in. 

We didn’t suffer from the banging noises of the anchor below or stomping feet above.

When we first walked in, I immediately noticed the large, glowing screen on the far wall. The virtual screen stretched from the floor to the ceiling, projecting a live feed of the outside area.

Although having a live feed in the room felt eerie at first, I found that it was actually very nice to get a peek at what was going on around me. 

When it was raining, I could take a look at the screen and see the wet weather right away.

When the ship arrived at Perfect Day at CocoCay, I saw the blue waters from the comfort of my stateroom.

In a regular interior cabin, you are more cut off from the ship’s surroundings, clueless to what’s going on unless you leave the room and head to another deck.

The feed stayed on 24/7, and although Royal Caribbean’s website says you can switch the screen off, I never found a way to do so.

Unfortunately, the bright screen kept glowing into the night, even though the view was nothing but black.

We could cover it with the white and blue curtains, but they didn’t serve to completely block the blue light.

This was one disadvantage of staying in a virtual balcony cabin because I usually love the deep darkness of a windowless inside cabin.

If the curtains weren’t adjusted perfectly in front of the screen, the light still shone into the room, keeping me up at night.

To the left of the screen, I saw a quality dresser with drawers and a lamp on top. Inside the dresser was the cabin’s mini-fridge, which I didn’t use enough to tell if it kept food cold. I just stored fruit or desserts inside.

Beside the dresser, I found the cabin’s vanity/desk. 

The white chair in front was stylish and had a useful handle on the back. I could easily grab the handle to pull the chair out from the desk.

Above the table space sat a few cubbies for storage, and various ports for charging. From American to European to USB ports, this area provided several options.

The only downside here was that we left all our devices to charge on the desk, cluttering up the area.

I liked the sleek, modern look and feel of this wood furniture, but the ring light seemed dimmer than in other cabins I’ve stayed in. 

Opposite the dresser and vanity sat a long, blue couch. It was large enough for both myself and my friend to sit on it, and also leave bags and clothes there when we needed them.

The cushions and pillows matched the dark blue shade of the stateroom.

The cabin's design felt very modern, and everything was clean and tidy. However, I had one major gripe with the cabin’s layout: storage.

Typically, Royal Caribbean staterooms have one large closet in the front of the room, and various drawers and shelves throughout.

This cabin split the closet into two parts instead: one on either side of the beds.

The left side held a closet with more shelf space and a safe for security. The right side had a more traditional closet, with space and hangers for tall clothes and jackets.

My travel companion and I had to decide if we would split our clothes into both sides, leaving us to walk around the beds and each other every time it was time to put together an outfit.

Or, we could compromise and one of us could have all the shelf space, while the other got to hang all her clothes.

We went with the second option, but I still felt annoyed that the closet was split into two separate areas.

I did love the extra shelf space above the beds—these cabinets were deep and wide, and there was one above each bed.

One design problem I noticed with my cabinet was that it opened from the top, and the corner would hit the closet door each time. 

The only way I could solve this was by leaving the closet door open whenever I opened up the cabinet. 

Between the beds, there were two nightstands with large shelf space. As I am now used to, there were no USB ports or outlets in these nightstands by the beds.

And above each bed was a warm, golden lamp.

Past these beds, I found the cabin’s bathroom.

Although it was small, I thought that it was one of the most modern-looking and clean bathrooms I’ve seen.

The shower had a wide, curved door, giving us just a little more space inside.

The bathroom counter was long, with a large sink. Strangely enough, the counter beside the sink was thinner than the sink itself. 

However, there was still enough shelf space above and below the sink where I could store toiletries.

The bathroom had several hooks for items, but the size and shape seemed ill-suited to hang towels on. When I tried to hang towels on the hooks, they would slide right off.

All-in-all, the room was clean and modern, with some design changes compared to the cabin layout I’m used to. 

While I enjoyed the cabin overall, some of these design changes were less efficient than others.

From one-of-a-kind experiences to the first-ever Chief Dog Officer, Icon of the Seas is truly unlike any other ship at sea. This distinction extends to its crew area as well. 

While you can book a behind-the-scenes tour to view areas such as the Bridge and galley, they won't take you into the majority of crew-only areas. 

For the first time ever, Royal Caribbean designed a dedicated neighborhood for crew members that includes a private gaming lounge, multiple bars, and even a Windjammer with porthole windows and televisions. 

Chris Wong, an Assistant Casino Host onboard Icon, recently took to YouTube to give viewers a look inside of their living areas. He begins the video by saying, "Welcome to Icon of the Seas, the newest, the biggest, and best cruise ship in the world." 

While some areas are confidential, let's dive into Wong's tour of the crew neighborhood on Icon. 

The Crew Windjammer is impressive

The first area he shows in his video is the Crew Windjammer on Deck 2. That's right— crew members have their own mess hall, and yes, they have a handwashing station, too! 

On the day of filming, it was the crew appreciation dinner, so the spread was more expansive than it usually is. The Windjammer was also decorated with banners, balloons, and even an ice sculpture of the infamous Crown & Anchor logo. 

Like the standard guest Windjammer, there are different stations available to the crew, including "Off the Grill," "Fresh from the Garden," "International Flavors," and "Pasta."

"On this side, I can see steak, chicken, [and] a whole bunch of other meats. Look at this, [I] see all sorts of rice and bread rolls, cold meats, hot meats, cheese platters...can you believe this is all for the crew?" Wong says. 

Moreover, there's complimentary coffee, juice, and tea available to crew members.

He explains that this is where he eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day; however, since this day of filming was crew appreciation night, he notes that dinner isn't always as exciting. Additionally, he says that it's rare he sees it as busy as it was. 

The seating area is bright and colorful, with multi-color chairs and light that floods in from the porthole windows. That's actually a first, as all other crew Windjammers in the fleet don't have any natural light or ocean views. 

On the back walls are a couple televisions, so the crew can watch the latest sporting match or other program while dining. 

Unlike the guest Windjammer, they are responsible for cleaning up their own dishes, rather than leaving them to be collected by someone else. 

Read more: 7 most important crew members to meet on your cruise ship

Wong leaves the Windjammer and heads into the Java Cafe

He describes it as a "chill-out area," that features tons of seating, television screens, and board games, as well as a coffee bar where they can purchase cold beverages like soda or specialty beverages. 

"You will never get anything like this on another Royal Caribbean class of ship; this is only on Icon Class," Wong remarks. 

Inside of the Java Cafe is the crew shop; however, on the day of filming, it was already closed. 

Thankfully, Wong's able to press his camera up against the storefront gate to show viewers a decent look at what's inside, which includes snacks, toiletries, and other essentials. "I do like buying instant noodles and chips," he says. 

There are also pool and ping-pong tables for the crew to enjoy, which are located right outside of the Crew Gaming Lounge in the back of the Java Cafe. 

Nearby are the machines that they use to recharge their SeaPass cards, as well as an ATM. 

Read more: A look at the secret crew-only areas on the world's biggest cruise ship

The Crew Gaming Lounge is a paradise for crew members who enjoy playing video games

The guidelines posted on the exterior of the door indicate that food and drinks shouldn't be brought inside, and they're to sanitize controllers before and after every use. Moreover, when the gaming room is full, they are to limit their time inside to 30 minutes. 

Inside the Gaming Lounge are numerous televisions and consoles, including Xboxs and PlayStations. 

Wong admits that he hasn't spent too much time here yet; however, after his reaction to seeing Grand Theft Auto, I presume he might make more of an effort to venture to the Gaming Lounge every so often. 

"Honestly, there's so much in this [crew neighborhood], I forget what's here sometimes," Wong confesses

After walking back through the Java Lounge, he pans to the Crew Barber Shop. 

There are two barber chairs onboard Icon of the Seas. While it's not too large, Wong says that it's a nice little space. It allows the crew to stay on top of their grooming during their contracts. 

Read more: Photos show the cabin a dog lives in on the world's largest cruise ship

The Crew Nightclub and Karaoke Lounge can be found on Deck 3

The Crew Nightclub & Karaoke Lounge features a small dance floor, as well as a bar where they can purchase beverages. According to Wong, it's not as loud or hectic as the main crew bar, which is located on Deck 7. 

It's amazing to think about all of these spaces hidden beneath the guest areas. While you're watching an AquaTheater show or hanging out at the Dueling Pianos, crew members are having their own night out at their dedicated club. 

Directly across from the Crew Nightclub is the Training Center

Essentially like a large conference room, this is where all crew are required to go to complete various trainings, especially when they begin their contracts. 

"[I've] had many, many hours spent in here learning all the things that we need," says Wong. 

Those wanting to look like an Icon (i.e., strive to meet their fitness goals) will have to venture down to Deck 1

When comparing Icon's crew gym to other ships that he's worked on, Wong claims that he likes the look of Icon's: "It's very visually pleasing."

While there's a nice variety of machines, he does add that the free weights section is pretty limited. He does, however, have access to the guest gym, though, this isn't the case for all crew members onboard. 

The main crew bar on Icon of the Seas is reminiscent of an English-style pub and has forward-facing windows, allowing plenty of light to fill the space during the day

Deck 7 is home to many amenities for guests, including the brand-new Surfside Neighborhood, as well as the upper level of the Royal Promenade. Did you know, however, that it's also where the primary crew bar is? 

Passengers won't be able to access this venue, as it's only accessible through crew-only corridors that are hidden from the public. 

According to Wong, this is where a lot of the crew like to go get a drink after work in the evenings. 

The bar is connected to the Crew Patio, which features a smoking area. 

After walking through the smoking area, you'll find an exclusive outdoor deck for the crew that's located near the helipad, or as Wong calls it, the "winch pad," as helicopters aren't able to actually land on Icon. 

While slightly limited, the available seating seems to be the perfect place to relax outdoors during time off, especially if it's during sunset or when sailing into port. Fun fact: this area is where the champagne was smashed during Icon's naming ceremony! 

Wong ends the video by asking, "What do you think? Is this pretty cool or not?" He says it is by far the best crew area he's ever seen on any ship that he's worked on, and he enjoys spending time around the various exclusive venues.