Royal Caribbean Blog

I read a list of things cruise ship passengers brought with them to Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay, and I think many of these are genius.

I've visited Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas over 20 times, and I thought I knew it all until I ran across this list.

Members of the Facebook group "Coco Cay - The Perfect Day" shared what they've brought to CocoCay to enhance their day. While the usual things were there, a few stood out as things I had never considered bringing.

Royal Caribbean includes a lot in your visit to their island, including beach chairs, umbrellas, food, and access to different beaches. 

While I think you could have a fun time with just you and your towel on the island, I'm a firm believer there's always room for improvement.  And I think some cruisers figured out exactly how to maximize their visit with these items.

Here are 10 unique things to bring to Perfect Day at CocoCay that you might want to pack too.

Baby powder

I had no idea baby powder was useful beyond prevent chaffing, but it's useful at the beach too.

Evidently, you can use it to remove sand from your feet quickly and easily, and it's a great tip for young kids.

After you're done in the ocean for the day and your feet are full of sand, powder the sticky not quite dry areas. 

This helps clothes go back on smoothly so kids can get dressed.

You can buy a bottle for less than $5 on Amazon, making it a super cheap tip.

Spray fan

Most months of the year, you can expect it to be hot and humid when you visit CocoCay, and anything you can do to cool down helps.

A lot of cruisers recommending packing a spray fan to cool down.  Unlike a regular fan, this mists you too.

This fan can be quite helpful when you're going between the ship and shore, or walking around the island.  If there's no breeze, this fan feels amazing.

Plus, you can use it on the ship too when it gets hot out on the pool deck.  Or during shore excursions when it always seems to feel like the surface of the sun.

You can pick one up from Amazon for about $15 and it's something you can bring on every cruise.

Collapsible wagon

If my kids were younger and I was traveling with another family, I think a collapsible folding wagon would be a really smart buy.

As long as you can pack it easily, you could bring a fold up wagon with you to make getting all your stuff from the ship to beach without feeling like a pack mule.

When you have kids, it can feel like you're moving the Army of the Potomac to do just about anything.  Having all the things you definitely need and might need add up quickly, so this hack is a smart way to get around lugging it all yourself.

If you're flying to your cruise, I'd probably skip this one because of the heft and bulk of the wagon and having to check it with the airline.

Inflatable floats

Floaties aren't just for kids.

If you'll spend a lot of time in the water, why not enjoy in style? 

Instead of paying Royal Caribbean to rent a mat, you can bring inflatable mesh floats that you can hang onto or sit in and enjoy the water.

I've found these are very useful in the ocean when you want to hang there and be submerged without kneeling.

Plus, they work at any beach.  So you could use it at other places your cruise visits.

You can get a four pack for just about $20, and that means everyone in your family has one to use.  

Towel clips

Another cheap, but smart buy are towel clips to bring with you.

The idea is you use them to keep your towel in place and not blowing around when the wind kicks up. So when you get up from your chair, your towel remains exactly where it should be.

You can use them not only on your pool deck loungers, but any of the chairs around CocoCay.

It's probably a good idea to get two clips per person at the very least, and you'll be set. 

Sunscreen lip balm

You know to bring sunscreen, but did you know your lips can get sunburned, chapped, or both?

I'll admit it's not something I really think about, but it's a legit issue that could dampen your day to deal with.

Bringing a pack of lip balm that has SPF protection means you won't ruin your beach or pool day.

Full-face snorkel mask

I'm not a snorkel person, but I know so many people swear by full-face snorkels to make it so much easier.

Once again, you could rent snorkel gear from Royal Caribbean, but bringing your own means you can re-use it on future trips and that will save you money.

The advantage of a full-face mask is it's supposed to make set up a heck of a lot easier for novices. There's no breathing tubes or goggles to mess with and try to align.

Heck, some even come with a GoPro attachment so you can show your friends, family, and neighbor Kenny all of your underwater adventures.

Liquid band-aids

Instead of packing regular band-aids, it's a good idea to go with liquid bandages because of the nature of a cruise vacation.

It's easy to get blisters while on vacation from all the extra walking you'll do on the ship and on shore. Plus, if you have new shoes that you bought for the trip, it's even more likely.

The benefit of liquid ones is standard band-aids fall off in the water, and then you have the sting of salt water hitting the wound. Not to mention no one likes to see band-aids 

Liquid bandages do not actually adhere to the skin like traditional ones. Instead, the glue-like substance forms a tough protective barrier to seal out water, dirt, and germs. 

Privacy pouch with lock

When it comes to what to do with your personal belongings, I always just hid my things somewhere around my chair.  But there is a better way.

While I don't think petty theft is a problem at CocoCay, better safe than sorry. To that point, you could get a bag that attaches to your chair so it won't go anywhere.

You'll want a small bag that's water resistant and has a lock so you can put your phone, cash, SeaPass card, and anything else valuable safely away.

Water shoes

While the sand and surf at Perfect Day are quite pristine, there are rocks and things in the water that you'd want to wear water shoes to avoid a squishy or pointy step.

This is especially true at Chill Island, where there's more rocks and crevices. This natural growth is great for snorkeling, but walking in the water could be interesting.

Plus, the sand and walkways can get very hot anywhere on the island during the summer months.  

Don't worry, flip-flops will work just fine if you don't have water shoes. They just tend to be more secure and slip-proof. 

Sailing on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas is a vacation on one of the biggest cruise ship's in the world, but it also comes with a big price tag for everything it offers.

I went on a 7-night sailing that cost me more than $4,500 for the cruise fare, hotel, airfare, and plenty of onboard purchases.

Since Oasis Class ships are among my favorites at sea, I couldn’t resist sailing aboard Wonder for a week to the western Caribbean.

I made the most of my time on the ship without completely breaking the bank by employing some money-saving strategies, such as booking an interior stateroom and cruising during the shoulder season.

In total, I spent $4,698.16 on my weeklong Western Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise on Wonder of the Seas, including airfare to Florida and miscellaneous onboard spending. It wasn't the cheapest vacation, but it was worth every penny! 

My guarantee inside cabin was $2,292.10

In a dream world, I’d always cruise in a balcony stateroom. However, they’re more expensive than interior cabins, and given how frequently I sail, this isn’t realistic.

As such, I booked a guarantee interior stateroom for my 7-night cruise on Wonder of the Seas. The total was $2,292.10, including taxes, port fees, and gratuities for two people. 

Because I booked a guarantee cabin, we could not choose our stateroom’s location and were assigned cabin 9116. 

The standard interior stateroom was all the way forward on Deck 9. I typically prefer midship staterooms, especially when sailing with my partner, as she gets seasick more easily than I do. However, we got lucky on our particular sailing. 

There were very few times we felt excessive movement in our stateroom. One evening, my partner said the rocking kept her awake later than she would have liked, but a little Dramamine helped her doze off before midnight. 

That said, the stateroom was well-appointed. Traveling as a couple, we kept the bed configured together, rather than separating the mattresses and having two smaller twin-sized beds. 

Read more: I got seasick on two cruises. Here's what I'll do differently next time

Besides the location, my only other quarrels with the cabin were the lack of a loveseat or sofa and hooks. While we had a chair, I would have preferred a larger couch as a catch-all place for our miscellaneous items. At times, we had multiple bags piled on the tiny chair. 

Our cabin's walls were also noticeably bare other than a small gallery wall arrangement on the left side. As such, there wasn't a great spot to hang lanyards or day bags. Though larger staterooms onboard typically have hooks beneath the television, this area was occupied by the dresser. 

If I were to cruise on Wonder again, I'd prioritize bringing magnetic hooks to help utilize the wall space more efficiently and better organize our belongings. 

My onboard expenses, including a specialty meal at The Mason Jar and a few souvenirs, came out to $403.91

Everyone’s onboard spending looks different. Some may prefer to splurge on a drink package, whereas other cruisers might spend their money on a specialty dining package or shore excursions in port.

While on Wonder of the Seas, I didn’t fully restrict myself to the complimentary amenities. As such, my onboard spending came to $403.91.

Before the cruise, my partner and I made a reservation for The Mason Jar to try its brunch because neither of us had eaten there before.

When we booked our cruise with our travel agent, we were gifted $50 in onboard credit that we used to help offset the cost. This meant we paid just $9.20 per person or $18.40 altogether.

I wish I had a lighter dinner the night before because my stomach definitely wasn't ready for a multi-course meal at 11:00am on our final day onboard! Everything from the deviled eggs to the over-the-top cinnamon roll and twice-fried Oreos was delicious and worth the cost. 

On embarkation day, we also decided to skip the Main Dining Room and eat at Playmakers for dinner. An order of six wings, a chicken sandwich, and the infamous campfire cookie was $40.72, including an extra tip for our prompt waiter.

In addition to food, we spend money on a few souvenirs onboard. One of my guilty pleasures is purchasing new toys for my dog, Dexter. One night, as we were browsing the shops, we couldn’t resist buying a new collar and first-mate dog toy for him. These two items came out to be $22.93.

In all fairness, he did need a new collar. We somehow misplaced his and were using one that didn’t fit our old guy very well. The toy was a fun bonus!

Another miscellaneous purchase was my partner’s lanyard. I was in Florida before her, so she packed on her own. A few items were forgotten, including a lanyard! She also forgot her trusty handheld fan. Thankfully, we took it easy, booking a private driver with an air-conditioned car in Roatán, staying onboard in Cozumel, and spending time in the pool while docked in Costa Maya. 

Royal Caribbean ships don’t have a shortage of lanyards, so she picked one up on embarkation day for $10.64 in the Royal Promenade while we waited for the announcement that staterooms were ready. 

We also bought two new T-shirts in the Royal Promenade for $30. Usually, I steer clear of these sales; however, I wanted a new comfy shirt to sleep in, and $15 for an oversized shirt isn't a bad deal. 

Alcohol is something to consider on any cruise, regardless of which line you're sailing with. We limited our daily consumption since we decided to save money and not purchase a drink package. For the most part, we stuck to our four included Diamond vouchers. 

Read more: The secrets to achieving Diamond status quickly on Royal Caribbean

However, there were a few times we wanted an extra drink when attending activities like the adults-only silent disco in the Solarium or watching The Quest in Studio B. 

Plus, we tried the Bionic Bar and invented our own concoctions, and I couldn't go too long without a crisp Diet Coke. My partner also purchased a Cafe Select Coffee Card for her iced coffees each morning. Altogether, these beverages totaled $199.14. 

One night, we purchased ice cream at Sugar Beach while watching Inside Out 2 at the AquaTheater. Our two scoops of Cookies & Cream ice cream came out to $7.08. It was my first time trying Sugar Beach and though it was a nice treat, the soft serve at Sprinkles is a solid option and does not cost anything extra. 

Finally, if there’s one place my partner and I have to visit on every cruise, it’s the arcade. Or, in my case, the adult arcade, aka the casino! Between the slots and a few failed claw machines, we spent $75.00.

Before the cruise, we reserved The Key for $517.86

After 14 Royal Caribbean cruises, I decided to try The Key to see if it was worth the relatively high price tag. It came out to $517.86 for two passengers, or $36.99 per person, per night, for our weeklong cruise on Wonder of the Seas. 

The Key Program gives guests certain priority benefits, such as reserved seating in the main theater and AquaTheater, an exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room, and more. 

It also includes a VOOM Surf & Stream package for one device per person, so since my partner and I were both going to purchase a Wi-Fi package, we decided to splurge on The Key for extra perks while on our 7-night cruise. 

The Key did not include priority or expedited boarding in the terminal at Port Canaveral; however, once on the ship, we dropped off our carry-on bags in the Main Dining Room and enjoyed a three-course meal. 

It was a nice touch to begin our weeklong cruise away from the crowds in the buffet. However, the food wasn't really anything that special. 

Throughout our voyage, we also took advantage of the reserved seating in the AquaTheater. We had amazing seats front and center and were in awe of the talented divers and dancers as they performed daring stunts and synchronized routines. 

We also utilized The Key's private zip line time on the last day, though this wasn't planned. We wanted to watch the Yes or No game show in the karaoke lounge; however, all seats were filled when we arrived. Instead of standing in the corner, we made our way to Deck 16 and rode the zip line with no wait! 

Overall, though, I don't think The Key was worth the cost. While having extra benefits was nice, I'd rather spend the money on a cabin with a view or a shore excursion. 

We did not even use The Key's express disembarkation. After grabbing a coffee at Cafe Promenade, we joined the line in the Royal Promenade and were off the ship in minutes. 

I booked an excursion through Viator in Roatán, Honduras, for $140

Since my partner and I visited Cozumel last year, we opted to stay onboard, saving money and taking advantage of fewer crowds. However, it was my fiancée's first time in Roatán, and she really wanted to visit an animal sanctuary. We booked a last-minute tour through Viator for $140 including a tip, and I'd highly recommend it!

Though we booked through Viator, the tour company was called Roatán Breakaway Tours. We easily located our driver, Kendall, outside the port, and were whisked away on a 3.5-hour excursion that visited Daniel Johnson's Monkey & Sloth Hangout, the Roatán Rum Company, and the Roatán Chocolate Factory. 

Kendall was a fantastic driver, and we learned a lot about the island as we drove to each stop. This was easily one of the highlights of our cruise! Who wouldn't want to hold an adorable sloth or have cute monkeys jump all over them?

This was the only excursion purchased, as we planned a cheap port day in Costa Maya, venturing off the ship for a quick dip in the port's pool before returning onboard. 

One thing to note is that if you plan to stay in Costa Maya's port area and use the lounge chairs, you must purchase something from a nearby bar. 

We ordered two overpriced and over-sugary mojitos for $38.00 and thought that since we bought something from a port bar, we could move freely from one pool to another. Unfortunately, we were told you must purchase something from the closest bar. So, even though we spent nearly $40.00 at the Mojito Bar, we couldn't sit near the Costa Maya Beach pool. 

While ashore, I spent $52 on souvenirs 

Even though I say I'm not going to purchase anything in port, I always come back with something new. 

This time, it was a handmade shot glass made in Honduras, as well as a magnet for my partner's desk at work and a rum cake. 

We also bought local hot sauce for our family, and my partner couldn't resist trying a cookies and cream popsicle from the Roatán Chocolate Factory. Altogether, these items came to $52. 

I spent $1,254.29 on airfare and transportation

Before my cruise on Wonder, I took a 4-night cruise aboard Margaritaville at Sea's Islander out of Tampa. As such, I began my two-week trip by flying into Tampa and out of Orlando. My airfare with American Airlines was $402.97. 

Thankfully, I gave myself time and flew into Tampa the day before my first cruise, as I had to deal with two canceled flights before finally departing Charlotte about four hours later than scheduled. 

After my cruise on Islander, I took an Uber from Tampa to my hotel in Orlando, where I stayed for two nights between sailings using Hyatt points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards. This was the most expensive rideshare of the trip, costing $133.95. 

Rather than spend a full Saturday in the hotel, my partner and I purchased a one-day multi-park ticket to Universal Studios. This was completely optional, though, and came out to $466.48 for both of us. 

My partner's flights were more affordable. Because she doesn't have loyalty status with a specific airline, she booked a one-way flight to Orlando on Spirit, and I used American miles for her return flight. She paid just $82.19 for the flight from Charlotte to Orlando, which included a checked bag. 

On the morning of our cruise, we took a Lyft from our hotel across Universal Studios to the Orlando airport to catch our bus to Port Canaveral for $23.75. We booked our shuttle through Go Port and paid $59.98 each or $119.96 altogether. 

It was my first time using Go Port, and it was such an easy experience. After checking in around 9:45am, we waited until our boarding group number was called. It took less than fifteen minutes from when we lined up to board the bus to when we were en route to Port Canaveral. 

Using Go Port to return to the Orlando airport was just as smooth and efficient. We easily located Go Port's check-in counter after leaving the terminal and were off in minutes thanks to an almost full bus. The shuttle got us to the airport by 8:30am, and we were through security and passing time in the lounge by 9:10am, hours ahead of our 1:00pm flight. 

The last expense of my 7-night cruise aboard Wonder of the Seas was a Lyft ride from the Charlotte airport back home, which came to $24.99.

Royal Caribbean posted its last batch of North American sailings in winter 2026-2027 and there are notably no ships sailing from Baltimore.

The cruise line has slowly announced new sailings through early 2027 in a variety of regions since November 2024, and this week's release includes the "Seasonal Caribbean" voyages its customers can now book.

With just Asian and Australian deployments left on the schedule to be released, and all the Vision and Radiance Class deployed elsewhere on the schedule, it appears there won't be any ships sailing from Baltimore for the first time in a while. 

Vision of the Seas had been based in Baltimore for the last few years, but in October 2026, Vision will move to Fort Lauderdale.

Royal Caribbean cannot send any bigger ships to Baltimore because of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge that is too low for taller ships to access the port.

That bridge (and the recently destroyed Francis Scott Key Bridge) have prevented cruise lines from bringing newer and bigger ships to Baltimore because they physically cannot fit there.

Discussions of raising the bridges to new heights to accommodate bigger ships haven't gotten very far, and now it appears there will be a pause in Royal Caribbean service from Baltimore.

There were rumors Grandeur of the Seas would replace Vision, but Royal Caribbean already confirmed Grandeur will be based in Tampa in 2026-2027.

Between October 2026 and April 2027, all the ships that could fit under the bridges into Baltimore are based somewhere else:

• Vision of the Seas: Fort Lauderdale
• Grandeur of the Seas: Tampa
• Rhapsody of the Seas: Tampa
• Enchantment of the Seas: Tampa
• Radiance of the Seas: San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Brilliance of the Seas: San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Jewel of the Seas: Cartagena, Colombia or Colon, Panama
• Serenade of the Seas: San Diego, California

The Baltimore cruises will be officially cut come October 2026

The last scheduled sailing from Baltimore for Vision will be October 17, 2026. It's a 5-Night Bermuda cruise.

Then on October 25, 2026, Vision re-appears in Royal Caribbean's schedule to begin primarily 3- and 4-night Bahamas cruises, along with a few longer sailings.

"I love sailing out of Baltimore.  I sure hope they send a ship back my way," is what Royal Caribbean message board user Gilley wrote upon discovering the news.

Offering cruises from New Orleans

While Royal Caribbean is seemingly stepping away from Baltimore, it's moving right into New Orleans.

Mariner of the Seas will be based there in the winter, offering 7-Night western Caribbean cruises.

The Voyager Class ship will begin sailings from there in November 2026, and continue sailings through April 2027.

Ports of call from New Orleans include George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; Costa Maya, Mexico and Falmouth, Jamaica.

New sailings on the amplified Allure of the Seas were also released, with Allure calling Miami home.

Beginning in October 2026, Allure will offer 7-Night eastern and western Caribbean cruises with visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Then in January, she adds a mix of short cruises and long sailings.

Allure of the Seas is undergoing major upgrades currently in Spain, where the ship is getting new restaurants, water slides, and other significant upgrades.

Royal Caribbean is investing over $100 million in the ship to bring her up to par with newer Oasis Class ships.

Rounding out the new deployment is Independence of the Seas will call Miami home in winter 2026-2027.

Independence will sail alternating 7-night cruises to the eastern and western cruises, with many also visiting Royal Caribbean's private island.

Royal Caribbean could return to Baltimore in the future

The decision not to base a ship from Baltimore beginning in October 2026 may be bad news for residents of the midatlantic region that enjoyed that convenience, but it's not to say Royal Caribbean won't ever return.

Each year deployments are reviewed and ships shifted around where it makes the most financial sense for the company to meet the demand of its customers.

Historically, we've seen certain ports gain ships and lose ships.  Los Angeles was without any ships for a decade, and now will have three vessels calling it home.

New Orleans has been a port that sometimes has a ship based there, but not year-round. Similarly there are no cruises from Boston some years.

Some cruise fans are pinning their hopes on a new smaller sized ship to finally be announced.

Known as the Discovery Class, Royal Caribbean has hinted and teased at a plan for a smaller ship design.  However, there's no official word yet on how small or tall the ships will actually be, and if they'd fit in Baltimore.

What's left to be released

The rest of the new deployments for 2026 and early 2027 are for homeports in Asia or Australia.

China cruises will be posted during the week of March 10, 2025, followed by Singapore during the week of March 17, 2025.

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

For cruises in summer 2027 and later, we'll have to wait until November 2025 for those to be posted.

Royal Caribbean cancelled a cruise on one of its cruise ships because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. 

Passengers booked on the upcoming 3-night sailing onboard Quantum of the Seas were informed that their cruise would not proceed as scheduled. The sailing was scheduled for March 7, 2025.

"We have been monitoring the progression of Tropical Cyclone Alfred as it slowly moves toward Brisbane. Due to the development of the storm and the closure of the Port of Brisbane, the previous Quantum of the Seas sailing has been delayed returning to port, and as a result, our 3-Night sailing has unfortunately been cancelled," the email to confirmed guests reads.

All passengers will receive a full refund of any paid portion of the cruise fare, including non-refundable deposits and pre-paid add-ons, as well as a Future Credit Card to be used on a future Royal Caribbean cruise. 

The amount varies based on the stateroom category booked and applies per cabin, not per person:

• Inside cabin: $150 USD
• Outside cabin: $200 USD
• Balcony cabin: $250 USD
• Deluxe cabin: $400 USD

Quantum stuck at sea

Quantum of the Seas' February 28 sailing was due to return to Brisbane on March 7. However, the 168,666 gross registered ton ship (GRT) will remain at sea because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The rare, powerful weather system is a Category 2 storm with destructive wind gusts of up to 96mph. 

"Due in Brisbane Australia on Friday 7th March, however TC Alfred is due to make landfall in Brisbane the same day and the port is closed. Will now dock on Monday 10th March," wrote Jester_Fleshwound on a Reddit thread. 

In addition to 3 extra sea days, Quantum will visit Noumea, New Caledonia, for the second time. Quantum is expected to arrive on March 7. The ship previously called at Noumea on March 3, followed by Mystery Island, Vanuatu, on March 4. 

Royal Caribbean gave guests complimentary internet to help them stay connected while adjusting to the unexpected changes. 

Additionally, passengers who booked airfare through Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program will automatically have their flights adjusted. Those who booked independently will receive a credit of $200 USD for domestic travel and $400 USD for international travel per person. 

Regarding Wi-Fi and drink packages, Royal Caribbean is extending VOOM Surf & Stream packages for three days at no extra cost. 

However, guests with drink packages must pay an extra $35 USD daily for the Deluxe Beverage Package and $14 USD for the Royal Refreshment Package. There's no additional charge for the Soda Package. 

Passengers who decide not to extend their drink package and purchase beverages individually will receive 50% off. 

Finally, guests who didn't pre-pay their gratuities will notice additional charges for the three extra days onboard, while all passengers will receive 3 more nights' worth of cruise points, bringing the total for their voyage to 10. 

Other cruise ships impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Several other cruise ships have had their itineraries altered because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, including Norwegian Sun, Queen Anne, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Encounter, and Carnival Luminosa.

Like Quantum of the Seas, Carnival Luminosa's March 6 cruise from Brisbane was canceled while the ship remains at sea to avoid the storm.

"Our Fleet Operations Center continues to keep a close eye on Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Given its current track, the storm is expected to directly impact the Brisbane area in the coming days and the port is now closed as it prepares," read an email sent to guests.

"Regrettably, we have no alternative but to cancel your voyage. We know this is disappointing and we are truly sorry for the disruption to your holiday plans." 

The current 11-night sailing was slated to conclude on 6; however, Carnival guests shouldn't expect to disembark any earlier than March 8. 

All the excitement of your cruise beginning means you'll want to get onboard as fast as possible, meaning you don't want paperwork to slow you down.

Royal Caribbean has digitized the embarkation process to a point that it's about as smooth as can be from getting curb to gangway, but I've found there's a better way to have your SetSail Pass handy.

The Royal Caribbean app is where you go to conduct online check-in, and it can display the SetSail Pass too, but it can be clunky to get to quickly and in many cases, the app fails to pull up the pass on embarkation day.

After I complained about being stuck in the terminal without my SetSail Pass because the app failed, a number of readers told me I should add it to my Apple Wallet (there's a Google Wallet for Android devices too), and it's been a game changer.

While the Royal Caribbean will probably work, there are several reasons why adding it to Apple or Google Wallet can be beneficial.

Convenience at your fingertips

Having your SetSail Pass available to show quickly speeds up the embarkation process significantly.

You'll have to show it at least four times throughout the check-in process:

• To enter the terminal
• To verify which check-in line you should enter
• To actually check-in
• To scan in and board the ship

Plus, until your cabins are ready and you can collect your SeaPass cards, you'll only have your SetSail Pass to use to purchase drinks onboard.

It's super simple to double tap your phone's side button and pull it up without having to even scan your face.

A backup in case the app fails

For some strange reason, the Royal Caribbean can occasionally fail on embarkation day.

It works just fine in the days and months leading up to your cruise, but I've experienced a number of times where it refuses to pull up the SetSail Pass on embarkation day because of a phantom error.

When this happens, you have to go to the check-in desk and have a physical SetSail Pass printed out instead.  It stops you in your tracks and delays embarkation.  While this only takes a few minutes, I'm too excited to wait around because I want to board.

Most recently this happened to my friend that was cruising with me on Enchantment of the Seas, and he had to go back to get one printed out.  Meanwhile, I had added my SetSail Pass to my Apple Wallet and had no issues.

Faster to pull up when you need to show it

Even if the Royal Caribbean app works flawlessly, it's clunky to access the pass when you don't have it stored in your wallet.

You have to unlock your phone, get to the Royal Caribbean app, and then go to the check-in section to access it.

Considering how many times you might have to show the pass, especially if you're going to be ordering a lot of drinks when you get onboard, it's so much easier and faster to have it in your wallet.

You might be able to see your GTY cabin

There's a little hack with the Apple Wallet that might help anyone that booked a guarantee cabin.

When you let Royal Caribbean pick your room, there's a delay until your room is assigned. It could take days, weeks, or even months for them to assign a cabin to you.

However, you might be able to figure out which room you're assigned earlier with a clever hack that leverages the Apple Wallet.

Cruisers call it "the bar code trick", and here's how it works:

Once you reach the point you can check-in for your cruise, if you have an Apple device, add your set sail pass to your Apple Wallet. 

Below the barcode on the SetSail Pass are a set of numbers. The numbers after the dash represent the cabin you have been assigned.

If you see "GTY" instead of numbers, you truly haven't been assigned yet.  Another sign you haven't had your room assigned yet is if you don't see a muster station on your SetSail Pass, then you almost certainly don't have an assignment yet.

How to add your SetSail Pass to your Apple Wallet

If you're convinced now to use the Apple Wallet, here's how to set it up.

After you complete check-in for your cruise, tap the Check-in button from the bottom row navigation.

Below your travel info, arrival time, and health status is the option to View SetSail Pass.

When you pull it up, click the Add to Apple Wallet button that should be below the barcode.

Tap Add in the top-right corner of the pass preview to add it to your Apple Wallet.

That's it! Now you can double-click the side or home button on your lock screen and you should see the Royal Caribbean pass there.

Work is underway on making major upgrades to Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas.

The second-ever Oasis Class ship is currently in Cádiz, Spain, undergoing an extensive $100 million-plus dry dock to enhance its amenities and overall guest experience. 

Allure was initially on the schedule for Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplified program. However, the pandemic had other plans, and her dry dock was indefinitely postponed. 

Years later, she's finally receiving the enhancements she deserves, boosting her onboard offerings to be more consistent with newer ships in the fleet. 

“Allure will be reimagined with the best of Royal Caribbean and what travelers love. Between new favorites, like the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, and experiences that unlock core memories time and time again, from an incredible pool deck to an unmatched combination of thrills and ways to chill, Allure will have even more of everything that makes it a standout favorite," said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer, Royal Caribbean International.

Following Allure's season in Europe, a first since 2015, she'll reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2025, where she will remain through October 2026, excluding a short stint in Galveston, Texas, in March and April 2026. 

One TikTok user on-site during the dry dock, @evasion_20s, has taken to social media to share exclusive content about Allure's refurbishment. 

The short videos range from showing cabins to Adventure Ocean, the brand-new Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade, and the pool deck, all in anticipation of Allure of the Seas welcoming guests onboard in Spain on April 11. 

Refreshed staterooms

It's rare for Royal Caribbean to completely redesign cabins during dry docks. However, it's usual for them to be updated and refreshed, ensuring they last for many, many more years. 

For example, @evasion_20s shows staterooms with torn-out carpets. With the furniture and carpet removed, it's a great time to replace the bedding and other worn-out furnishings, which is difficult when Allure is in regular service. 

However, Allure is receiving new suites above the bridge. The "Ultimate Panoramic Suites" will provide guests with 200-degree ocean views from the comfort of their cabins. Plus, passengers will enjoy the slew of perks that come with staying in a Star Class suite. 

Revamped Adventure Ocean

Adventure Ocean is Royal Caribbean's award-winning youth program. While adults can spend the day in the Solarium, Adventure Ocean spaces are exclusively for kids and teens. 

Younger cruisers sailing on Allure of the Seas can expect exciting new Adventure Ocean areas, including Play Place, the AO Theater; hands-on art, science, and tech events at the Workshop; interactive games at the Arena;  and even a brand-new Social298 venue with video games, music, movies, and more just for teens. 

The programming is included in your cruise fare, so families with children of all ages, including babies, can rest assured knowing there are dedicated activities for everyone onboard. 

Resort-style pools

The reimagined Caribbean pool deck will teleport guests to the tropics even if they're on a port-intensive European getaway. In addition to the new color scheme, guests can look forward to casitas, in-pool loungers, daybeds, and more. 

Additionally, the pool deck will finally receive what it has lacked compared to other Oasis Class ships: the Perfect Storm water slides.

The Cyclone, Typhoon, and SuperCell champagne bowl will bring another layer of thrills to cruises aboard Allure of the Seas. 

Younger kids and tweens will enjoy Splashaway Bay, featuring slides, water cannons, fountains, pools and whirlpools, and two drench buckets, while adults can lounge in the Solarium complete with new touches and the fan-favorite Samba Grill. 

New restaurants

While Samba Grill might not be a new addition, Allure of the Seas is introducing exciting dining options that cater to various tastes, including The Mason Jar and Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade. 

Both are specialty restaurants that aren't included in your cruise fare. Playmaker's is à la carte, meaning you only pay for what you order, while The Mason Jar has a set cover charge. 

The Mason Jar is a relatively new concept that debuted on Wonder of the Seas in 2022 and was added to Utopia of the Seas in 2024. Once Allure returns to service in April, The Mason Jar will be found on three ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. 

Read more: The best bar scene is only on two of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships

The Southern-inspired restaurant offers classic comfort food like fried chicken and waffles, buttermilk biscuits, deviled eggs, gumbo, chicken pot pie, coleslaw, collard greens, and more. 

Playmaker's is like your favorite sports bar back home. The no-frills joint is a great place to stop for a drink before an AquaTheater show, grab a low-key dinner on the Boardwalk, or catch the latest sports game. Note that it's replacing Sabor, the Mexican restaurant that was previously available.

Don't worry, though. You can still get your Mexican fix while sailing on Allure. For a while, the Oasis Class ship had a "knock-off" El Loco Fresh at the Wipe Out Café. 

Now, she'll finally have the proper complimentary Mexican restaurant where guests can grab yummy quesadillas and build their own nachos.  

El Loco Fresh will be on Deck 15 near the Sports Court. 

Ultimate Abyss

Allure of the Seas is also receiving the Ultimate Abyss dry slide. 

First launched on Harmony of the Seas, the Ultimate Abyss has quickly become an Oasis Class staple and was even added to Oasis of the Seas during her Royal Amplification. 

The slide is included in your cruise fare and takes you from the aft of Deck 16 to the Boardwalk on Deck 6, spitting riders out beside Playmaker's. This means that, along with Sabor, the Sabor Bar is also being removed to make way for the end of the Ultimate Abyss slide. 

New bars

The Pesky Parrot is perhaps one of the most unique additions to Allure of the Seas. The brand-new bar launched on Utopia of the Seas in July 2024. 

It's a lively, tropical-themed bar that brings a vibrant atmosphere to the Royal Promenade. Unfortunately, the relaxed Champagne Bar will be removed and replaced by the Pesky Parrot tiki bar. 

The Lime and Coconut is another new bar coming to Allure of the Seas, though it isn't new to the fleet. The popular pool bar offers guests the perfect spot to unwind with tropical drinks on a sea day. And yes, you can use your drink package at both!

Royal Escape Room and Laser Tag

If slides aren't your thing, whether wet or dry, Allure has plenty of other activities to keep you busy, from an ice skating rink to the zip line, FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall, and mini-golf course.

Allure of the Seas will receive a new themed escape room and laser tag course while in dry dock, adding to the fun available onboard.

The Royal Escape Room — Apollo 18: Lunar Landing is the latest in the cruise line's escape room lineup. Participants will be transported to 1973 as they hunt for clues to help Apollo 18 successfully land on the moon. Note, however, that this experience isn't included in your cruise fare.

Conversely, Battle for Planet Z, Royal Caribbean's glow-in-the-dark laser tag course that takes over the Studio B ice skating rink, doesn't cost extra.

Read more: What are the Oasis Class Ships?

Inside staterooms are usually my least favorite cabins on a cruise ship; however, I was pleasantly surprised by my windowless room on Wonder of the Seas. 

I began cruising on Oasis Class cruise ships at 14 when my family embarked on a weeklong spring break voyage aboard Oasis of the Seas to the Western Caribbean. 

However, I sailed on Oasis, Allure, and Harmony of the Seas before finally staying in an interior stateroom on Symphony of the Seas a few years ago. 

Since then, I've become accustomed to saving money by booking inside cabins. Most recently, I cruised in an interior stateroom on Wonder of the Seas on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida. 

To save even more money, we booked a guarantee cabin, meaning that we couldn't choose our stateroom's location. As such, we were randomly assigned room 9116 at the front of the ship. 

Initally, I was worried I'd regret not selecting my cabin, as staterooms in the forward of a cruise ship can sometimes experience more motion, especially during rough seas. 

Thankfully, the seas were calm during our weeklong voyage, and we did not experience much rocking in our tiny cabin. 

Our interior stateroom was $2,292.10, including prepaid gratuities. However, I'm confident we could have gotten a better rate on our shoulder season cruise had we booked more than two months in advance. 

Though I wish we had a more central location on such a large ship, I was happy with my stateroom on Wonder of the Seas. I rarely spend much time in my cabin when cruising on mega-ships anyway! 

Tiny but well-appointed

Cruisers seeking spacious accommodations rarely book cheap interior staterooms. Because they lack natural light and don't have private verandahs, they're typically the smallest accommodations on a cruise ship. 

This was certainly the case aboard Wonder of the Seas. Our cabin wasn't large but was cleverly designed to maximize the available space. The layout was efficient, with just enough room for the essentials, including a bed, desk, chair, dresser, and two nightstands. 

On embarkation day, I asked my cabin steward for a mattress topper, as I don't find Royal Caribbean's beds the most comfortable. 

Though I was disappointed to learn Wonder didn't have toppers, he padded the bed with an extra comforter. It wasn’t quite the same as a mattress topper, but it helped improve the sleep experience and made the mattress feel much more plush than without.

Because Wonder of the Seas is a newer ship having debuted in 2022, the stateroom was well-appointed with a fresh aesthetic and modern amenities. 

Perhaps one of my favorite features was the beside charging options, as the table lamps were outfitted with USB ports and standard American outlets. 

Older Royal Caribbean ships don't usually have bedside charging options, so it's nice that the company has updated their rooms with practical, convenient features. 

I appreciate charging my phone directly from the bedside table. While it's a small detail, it makes the cruising experience much better, especially after long days exploring the ship or port when you want to scroll on social media or play a mindless game before bed. 

Cabin 9116 didn't have a shortage of other charging options, either. The vanity was home to three American outlets, two USB ports, and two European plugs. 

Typically, I never travel without my trusty European adapters, as some ships have just two American and two European outlets. 

But with the ample charging options in this cabin, I didn’t need to worry about running out of places to plug in my devices.

Another pleasant surprise was the storage space

Before my 7-night cruise on Wonder of the Seas, I spent 4 nights on Margaritaville at Sea's Islander and two nights in Orlando, Florida, visiting Universal Studios (I'm bummed I was there one week before they launched the new Wizarding World wands!). As such, my checked bag wasn't light, coming in at around 45 pounds! 

Between my almost-overweight bag, backpack, and my partner's belongings, I was a little concerned about where we'd stow everything in our interior cabin. To my surprise, there was enough space to organize everything.

The closet had enough hangers for our dresses and blouses, while the small cubbies were great for stashing my packing cubes, shoes, and other smaller items. 

There was also a small dresser directly next to the closet with multiple drawers where we kept undergarments and swimsuits. 

However, I wish our stateroom had hooks for beach bags and lanyards. Because there wasn't a great place to hang anything, our cabin's singular chair, excluding the vanity chair, became a catch-all place to help keep the floor and vanity clear of clutter. 

Modern bathroom

The bathroom also had plenty of storage. I never travel without my hanging toiletries organizer, and it stayed out of the way on the back of the door during our sailing. This freed up the three shelves for my partner. 

Even then, the bathroom never felt overwhelming with cosmetics or toiletries strewn about. The shelves provided more than enough space for essentials, and the bathroom felt organized despite the small size. 

The shower had amazing water pressure and felt larger than other standard showers. Rarely did I bump my elbows into the glass door! 

Like other Royal Caribbean ships, however, the shower had the same 2-in-1 shampoo-body wash hybrid and small toiletries shelf. 

I'm always prepared with my own products, never leaving home without my preferred shampoo and conditioner. 

That said, because I was on a two-week trip, I brought larger bottles instead of my usual travel-sized ones. 

The small shelf isn't ideal for larger bottles, and outside of my shampoo and conditioner, there wasn't much room for my face wash or our two razors. 

Moreover, after 14 Royal Caribbean cruises using the cheap bar soap provided, I finally tried one of the best bathroom hacks: bringing your own liquid soap. 

Perhaps I just have chronically dry hands, but I hate using the provided soap. In fact, it's one of the reasons that lotion is always on my must-pack list. 

However, the foaming Dial soap turned out to be a game changer. The gentle formula felt much better on my skin and didn't create the same soapy mess that bars typically do. 

Relatively noisy during the day

As soon as we were assigned cabin 9116, I went to Wonder's deck plan to see where exactly we'd be spending 7 nights. I was disappointed to learn it was at the front of the ship and even more upset when I discovered it was next to a crew-only area once onboard. 

I didn't have many issues with the noise as I prefer to spend as little time as possible in the cabin while on a cruise ship. However, my partner prefers to take afternoon naps in the stateroom versus a Solarium chair. 

Because our cabin was next to the linen closet, she frequently heard crew members outside the stateroom in the afternoon while cabins were being serviced. Sometimes, the noise would start as early as 7:45am as they prepped for the morning shift. 

Read more: I always choose this time to have my cruise room cleaned

Thankfully, though I was worried about feeling the ship rocking at night, I didn't feel much movement at all. My partner felt a little differently, but she's more sensitive to motion sickness than I am. 

Dramamine, motion sickness patches, and acupressure bands helped turn an otherwise negative experience into something more manageable.  

Read more: I tried the most common seasickness hacks on my cruise. Here’s what works best

While I didn't have a bad cabin experience, I'd hesitate to book this stateroom again because of its location

Deck 9 is such a great deck on Oasis Class ships, as you're only one deck above Central Park and four above the Royal Promenade. 

On massive ships like these, grabbing an elevator can sometimes be difficult, so it was nice to know we didn't have to rely on waiting for an elevator after a show when the banks were busier than usual.

However, I'll always take a midship stateroom over one in the forward or aft of the ship simply because you never know what sea conditions will be like on any given sailing.

Because my partner is much more susceptible to seasickness than I am, paying extra to choose our cabin is almost always justifiable, as we've had some less-than-pleasant experiences, such as when sailing on Disney Magic last November.  

Sometimes, however, you can get lucky with guarantee staterooms. On my upcoming sailing on Icon of the Seas, we gambled with another GTY cabin and booked an unassigned Surfside stateroom for $3,802.46. 

Weeks before sailing, however, we noticed that we were assigned a midship Central Park infinite verandah, much to our surprise! 

A cruise ship passenger has been reported overboard from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, reports online say.

A search is underway for a passenger who was reported having gone overboard while on a 1980s-themed Royal Caribbean cruise in the Bahamas.

Multiple reports on social media from passengers on Explorer of the Seas were posted online. The incident happened around 11 p.m. on the first day of the sailing.

"Day 1 of the 80s cruise, all going well, then we hear “Oscar Oscar Oscar” overhead. And sure enough, the ship is turning around to search. Officer just came over the PA to announce the details," said Reddit user SkySeaSnow.

The code "oscar, oscar, oscar" is how crew members quickly identify there's a man overboard situation.

This particular sailing happened to be a full ship charter to offer a 1980s themed music and culture sailing, where the entire ship and sailing was based on the decade.

The ship departed Miami on March 2 for a 7-night sailing, with scheduled stops in Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Cruise ship tracking data showed Explorer stopping and reversing course to conduct a search for the person.

In fact, other cruise ships that were in the area joined in the search. Mapping data shows Norwegian Pearl and Carnival Sunrise may have assisted in the search.

"We are on Norwegian Pearl. We passed by and had our search lights on," wrote Jarega.

There's been no official word from Royal Caribbean on the incident.

What happened

Reports of what exactly happened are always tricky as there's usually a lot of hearsay, but a few people said it was from a woman on deck 8.

Reddit user Sweet_Independent_50 posted, "Yes, it was a woman that jumped from deck 8. I met her husband screaming help help. My my wife just jumped off the boat. He said it to me."

The search took some time but there's been no reports of her being found.  Statistically, it's unlikely to be rescued once overboard, but it's not impossible.

Explorer of the Seas arrived in Nassau, Bahamas earlier this morning, as scheduled.

Onboard safety precautions

The chances of falling overboard on a cruise ship are extremely low.

Deck railings on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are at least 42-inches high, which comply Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010.

In addition, there are thick metal or Plexiglas panels or metal bars are positioned under the railings to prevent people from slipping through. 

When a man overboard situation occurs, the media usually reports on it and it leads some to wonder how it could happen in the first place.

An article from The Points Guy points out cruise ships have railings that are around chest height to ensure passenger safety and to prevent someone from slipping and falling overboard.

"The only way you risk a fall is if you're standing on furniture to peer over the side or climbing somewhere you're not supposed to. It's not possible for you to trip over a door frame or slip on a wet deck and fall off of a vessel."

Passengers going overboard are rare

The chances of a cruise ship passenger going overboard are quite low, but it does occasionally happen.

In a report from Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), there were 212 identified overboard incidents from cruise ships for either crew members or passengers between 2009 to 2019. 

Of these overboard incidents, only 48 (or 28.2%) individuals were successfully rescued. Around 71.8% of people who go overboard from cruise ships are sadly never recovered or located. 

The CLIA report also shows an overall decline in overboard incidents throughout the 10-year period. The overboard incident rate decreased 64% from 2009 to 2019, with an incidence rate of 0.00004 overboard reports per active lower berth in 2019.

The report states, “When compared with the growth in capacity in the industry over the study years, man overboard incidents continue on a downward trend.” 

If you haven't been on one of Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships, you haven't seen yet the next-gen take on specialty restaurants known as "eatertainment".

Extra cost restaurants on cruise ships aren't new at all, and they've been a fad in and of themselves for many years.  Every cruise line saw the demand for other types of cuisines and cooking styles, and it's made them a lot of money too.

With the top cuisines covered, Royal Caribbean wanted to delve into something greater than just a new restaurant based on a region or country. Plus, Royal Caribbean sees themselves competing against major tourist destinations on land, such as Las Vegas or New York.  

That sort of thinking lead them to explore a new approach to specialty dining that has arguably gotten better with each iteration.  In fact, I love combining food, entertainment, and even destinations and coming up with something totally new.

With more new ships on the horizon, you should expect more restaurants delving into this hot trend of going beyond a restaurant by offering experiential dining.

Mason Jar

Royal Caribbean calls this new trend "eatertainment", and its first foray was with the Mason Jar on Wonder of the Seas.

Launched in 2022, the Mason Jar was a traditional specialty restaurant with a twist. There was a typical sit down specialty restaurant with a cover charge, but they included a bar area with a band performing.

The idea was to combine a meal with musical entertainment so that guests could enjoy country music with their southern American foods.  By adding live music, Royal Caribbean wanted to make the vibe reminiscent of a meal in the south.

Instead of dinner theater, Royal Caribbean wanted to give its guests a meal they could enjoy with something more.  That something more would be more apt to create memories and be an experience, rather than just something you ate. The goal is to makes passengers talk, and have them longing to enjoy it all over again.

"I don't want you to get bored when you're having dinner," is what Royal Caribbean Vice President, Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza said when coming up with an idea like the Mason Jar.

"We’ve been leaning into this notion of eatertainment where we’re really trying to blend entertainment and great dining together."

The success of the Mason Jar lead Mr. D'Souza and his team to think even bolder with its next idea.

Empire Supper Club

Icon of the Seas has revolutionized the cruise industry in many ways, including its approach to dining.

If the Mason Jar was version 1.0 of eatertainment, the Empire Supper Club was going to be version 2.0.

The idea was to create Royal Caribbean's most elegant restaurant to date, with fine dining, musical entertainment, and impeccable service.

Unlike the Mason Jar where the music was on the periphery of the dining experience, Empire Supper Club would put diners and entertainers in front of each other.

Royal Caribbean Chief Innovation Officer Jay Schneider described it once as, "a blend of best of entertainment and best of culinary."

A live three-piece jazz band performing music that connects with the meal you're being served. The combination of premium food, paired cocktails, and live music, put Empire Supper Club in a different category of dining.

Mr. D'Souza called it a "full immersive dining experience" that goes well beyond a typical specialty restaurant.

"Empire Supper Club is what I would say is the most elevated dining experience we've created at Royal Caribbean."

"It really is an elevated food experience that's tied together with a really elevated beverage experience."

While pricey at $200 per person, the experience stands out something unconventional that does exactly what eatertainment is all about: makes memories.

"It was hands down one of the best meals of my life and can't recommend it enough," wrote TheMaxRebo on our message boards.

"The creativity with the dishes and the cocktails, the amount you got, made the food alone worthwhile but the music just made the event."

If it feels like specialty restaurants tend to feel repetitive and uninspired, the Empire Supper Club stepped away from that trope.

Royal Railway

Once again, Royal Caribbean sought out to come up with something radically different for itself on Utopia of the Seas that would be as compellingly different as Empire Supper Club, but go even further.

Building on eatertainment was a trend Royal Caribbean first noticed on land. Mixed reality immersive dining experiences were popping up in various cities, and it caught the cruise line's attention.

An early such concept was "Sublimotion" in Ibiza, Spain.  It was a new high-end Mediterranean dining concept with virtual reality and immersive film projections.

Since no one had really done thematic immersion on a cruise ship, it seemed like a good opportunity with the launch of Utopia of the Seas to give it a go.

The concept Royal Caribbean came up with was Royal Railway, which offers a meal inside a classic train car that looks, feels, and sounds like a real train.

This immersive train dining experience was going to be more than just one restaurant. It could transport you to different areas of the world, with different menus.

"What if we put a train on a cruise ship that could take you to more destinations?" posed. Mr. Schneider near the launch of the new ship.

The area has a classic train station platform, with separately numbered dining cars, and real train steam. Guests would dine in the train and blend entertaining performances with amazing culinary dishes.

The result has been one of the hottest tickets right now on any Royal Caribbean ship.  Reservations regularly sell out almost as soon as they become available because of how many passengers want to try it.

Traditional restaurants aren't going away

This new trend is exciting, but it won't replace regular restaurants. Rather, it's there to augment them and offer something different.

Mr. Schneider explained recently the company's guiding credo is "tradition, evolution, and revolution," which means they want to always offer familiar, evolved, and different on all of its ships.

"There's no reason that you wouldn't expect to find a Chops on every ship that we build in the future...And then there needs to be experimentation."

Not every passenger on a ship wants the same thing, but expanding the variety allows Royal Caribbean to stand out from other vacation choices.

"New cuisine also then takes you to new experiences," Schneider said. 

Part of the rationale for developing new concepts is food is a major reason why people go on a cruise. On a high level, Mr. Schneider says the two predominant reasons people book a cruise are for destinations and food.

"You want that kind of diversity, given again, people want destinations and food is their two drivers to go on a cruise."

Welcome to March! We hope you are having a great weekend and are ready to sit back, relax and catch up with all the latest Royal Caribbean news!

Royal Caribbean is doubling down with short cruises on big ships.

The cruise line released its short Caribbean itineraries for 2026-2027 and two more Oasis Class ships will be sailing cruises less than a week.

The move is aimed at attracting new cruisers to try an impressive ship, while giving way to the Icon Class ships to take over weeklong voyages.

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• I tried Celebrity's All Included package for the first time
• National Park Service layoffs have left just one person to work at Alaska's most popular glacier destination this summer
• Does Royal Caribbean offer senior discounts?
• I tried Royal Caribbean's free room Service breakfast most cruisers don't know about
• The cruise ship private island with the actual best mozzarella sticks in the biz

New RCB Video: Best & Worst Royal Caribbean Cabins Ranked

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — Best & Worst Royal Caribbean Cabins Ranked — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

What does Royal Caribbean do with all its uneaten food?

Cruise ships are known for having so many places to eat and great food to try, but what happens when it goes uneaten?

Food waste is a problem around the world, but Royal Caribbean is employing sophisticated strategies to significantly cut down on the waste.

From leveraging AI to focusing on freshly prepared options, there's less food ending up in the incinerator than ever before on cruise ships.

Captain Kate leaving Celebrity Cruises

Captain Kate McCue announced her decision to leave Celebrity Cruises on social media.

Her legacy as the first American female cruise ship Captain and social media star made her easily recognizable and a favorite among cruisers.

"Today, I say farewell to Celebrity. I've spent 22 years on 11 ships in the Royal Caribbean Group, from 2nd Officer to Captain," McCue wrote.

Royal Caribbean’s short cruise plan for mega ships sparks backlash

More Oasis Class ships sailing short cruises in winter 2026 is not sitting well with a lot of loyal cruisers.

"Royal Caribbean is ruining most of the Oasis class ships!" is what one person wrote, and it exemplified a lot of the frustration with this week's new deployment that will have four of the mega ships sailing on cruises less than a week.

Some cruisers feel the push towards attracting new cruisers is coming at the expense of the onboard ship experience.

Things I wish I knew before my first Alaska cruise

After taking a few cruises to Alaska, Jenna learned some lessons that would have made it easier on her had she known them at the start.

An Alaska cruise is unlike a Caribbean sailing in so many ways, and there are important things to do that can make a major difference in the maximizing the experience.

While she thought she researched it well, the reality was she felt she still made some avoidable mistakes.

Most common mistakes passengers make on newest cruise ship

After sailing on Utopia of the Seas recently, Matt saw a number of cruisers making rookie mistakes.

While everyone has their own cruising style, there are definitely things that occur that lead to frustration, anger, or wasted time and money.

Because Utopia is so appealing to first-time cruisers, it's clear these folks ran into situations that could have been avoided with some research.