Royal Caribbean Group reported its fourth quarter 2023 earnings, along with a rosy outlook for the year to come.
The company took in $3.3 billion in total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2023, with a Net Income was $0.3 billion. For the year, Royal Caribbean Group had Net Income of $1.7 billion in 2023 following up on 2022 when Net Income was a $2.2 billion loss.
The earnings are better than expected thanks to a lot of last-minute bookings, strong demand overall, and higher cruise fare prices.
Just as importantly. the company is more excited for 2024 as it sees the potential for massive earnings.
A great 2023
Looking back at 2023, this was the bounce back year that Royal Caribbean needed.
About 7.6 million passengers sailed across Royal Caribbean Group's brands in 2023, compared to 5.5 million in 2022 and 6.5 million in 2019.
It was profitable enough to pay off approximately $4 billion of debt in 2023 while refinancing other debts to better position itself for the coming years.
On average, ships sailed at 105% capacity in the fourth quarter of 2023. Occupancy in the fourth quarter was higher than that of the same period in 2022.
A big year in 2024 is expected
So far, bookings in wave season are off to a "record start". This references the start of the year when interest in new cruise ship bookings are at its highest. They call it wave season because the momentum from the first few months of the year carries the company for the rest of the year as a wave would carry someone to shore.
Royal Caribbean had the five best booking weeks of the company's history since the third quarter earnings call, including the first three weeks of this year.
"As a result, the company is now in a record booked position in both rate and volume," the company said in a press release.
As has been the case for the past few years, a combination of increased demand and customers spending more on cruise ship add-ons is fueling this optimistic outlook.
"Consumer spending onboard and pre-cruise purchases continue to exceed prior years driven by greater participation at higher prices, indicating quality and healthy future demand."
Cruise fare prices and occupancy rates are both listed as higher in 2024 than in all prior years.
The company also pointed to exceptional positivity towards Icon of the Seas and Hideaway Beach expansion as two shining examples of the cruise market favoring this sort of demand.
Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty issued a statement describing his view of why 2024 will shape up as a big year, "Demand for our brands continues to outpace broader travel as a result of consumer spend further shifting toward experiences and the exceptional value proposition of our products."
"We have exciting new vacation experiences in 2024, including the game changing Icon of the Seas, and have entered the year in a record booked position at significantly higher prices, further positioning us for a strong 2024."
Royal Caribbean has outdone itself with Icon of the Seas, thanks to new innovations, changes, and a few tweaks.
Overall, I've enjoyed sailing on the new biggest cruise ship in the world because the ship has so many aspects that really stand out as being important. Subtle changes, such as the pool deck being broken up so it doesn't feel like just another cruise ship pool deck, to adding stairs, escalators, and shortcuts, have really had an effect on the enjoyment factor.
Like any Royal Caribbean ship, I can't help but compare and contrast it to other ships, and I've found a number of things I enjoy and some others I wish they would change.
Being the first ship in the Icon Class, it's impressive how much Royal Caribbean got right out of the gate with this ship. The line spent a great deal of time mocking up venues at their headquarters and utilizing virtual reality to better understand the flow and feel for venues that have never existed. The result has been fantastic.
I thought about my time on Icon of the Seas and what I've enjoyed about the ship and what truly stands out.
Icon feels uncrowded
From the day we boarded Icon of the Seas, it became clear crowds have not been an issue and it almost feels weird how uncrowded the ship is.
I'm not saying Icon feels like a private yacht or that there aren't any lines, but it has been remarkable how uncrowded the ship has felt. It's been especially true in places where I usually expect to find a lot of people, such as the pool deck or Royal Promenade.
On a sea day, I went to try to find a crowd. The Hideaway and Swim & Tonic bar is where I found the largest crowds, but even that was fairly manageable.
In many cases, other guests mentioned how empty the ship felt.
To be fair, the first sailing is not at maximum capacity, but there are about 5,500 passengers along with 2,300 crew members onboard. That's not a small number of humans on one ship.
I think the reason Icon feels so uncrowded so far is because of how much there is to do that draws people away.
There are three different theaters, an entire waterpark, live music, 40 bars and restaurants, seven pools, and a variety of other activities.
Plus, you have better flow of guests onboard with stairs, escalators, and shortcuts. It all adds up to help keep passengers moving and the ship really feels emptier than I would have ever expected.
Really good complimentary restaurants
Royal Caribbean has introduced a lot of specialty restaurants over the last few years, but darn if the food included with your cruise fare isn't really good too.
Besides the Main Dining Room, Sorrento's Pizza, and Windjammer, there are a few other new venues included in your cruise fare that are drawing me back time and time again.
Aquadome Market is a new food hall concept and it's a home run. So much variety, and so good food. I could eat the Greek gyros every day.
The Surfside neighborhood has three new restaurants, two of which are included. Surfside Bites and Surfside Eatery might be targeted at kids, but who doesn't love chicken tenders, hot dogs, and quesadillas?
Basecamp has a majority of extra-cost items, but I'd be remiss if I didn't stop for a complimentary basket of pretzel bites every time I walk by.
And then there's Pearl Cafe, which is a revamped version of Cafe Promenade. It has grab-and-go snacks available 24 hours a day, new drink dispensers, and a beautiful lounge space. It's one of the most popular spots to hang out on Icon.
Wide open spaces
Perhaps contributing to the feel that Icon of the Seas is uncrowded are the expanded and open venues.
The Royal Promenade stretches from side to side of the ship and it feels so nice having a space that doesn't remind me of a shopping mall.
How did they do this? They removed the Promenade facing cabins to add more space in this neighborhood.
Chill Island is the de-facto pool deck, but Royal Caribbean has spread out the pools and added so many chairs in the shade and sun that you can roll up to the pool at lunch on a sea day and still get a chair.
By opening up these decks, it really feels like you have more space to spread out.
Empire Supper Club
I wasn't sure if I would like Royal Caribbean's most expensive specialty restaurant, but I ended up loving it.
Empire Supper Club is a new dining experience, and the only comparison I can draw is to Chef's Table. Chef's Table had three flaws that kept me from ever loving it: you have to sit with strangers, it's paired with a lot of wine, and the food was always a little too frou-frou for my taste.
Empire Supper Club addresses all three of those problems, and includes amazing entertainment.
It's an intimate dining experience to be sure, but you are seated at your own table, so you don't have to worry about awkward conversations with strangers at the onset of the meal.
Instead of wine pairs, each course is paired with cocktails and I think there's a more universal appeal to cocktails. I certainly liked it better.
As for the food, the entrees are fantastic (try the Chilean Sea Bass) and I found each of the appetizers really tasty as well. Given the pacing, I think there's plenty to eat and it's all very good.
Yes, it's $200 per person to eat at Empire Supper Club, so it's not cheap. But I do think it's worth trying as a way to celebrate being on vacation and splurging a little bit.
More outlets than ever
You won't have to go very far to find a power outlet on Icon.
There are more electrical and USB outlets on Icon of the Seas than I've ever seen on another Royal Caribbean cruise ship. This is so helpful to ensure you can keep your devices charged no matter where you are.
Staterooms have always been where you could find dedicated power, and for the first time, there are likely more power and USB outlets than you can possibly use. For families, this is a really big deal as you don't have to play the game of which device can you disconnect so someone else can get a turn.
In the cabin, there are outlets on both sides of the bed, as well as by the vanity. Depending on which room type you have, there are also outlets near the television, storage areas and more.
Around the ship, there are lots of outlets in public venues and that means you can enjoy spending time in these places, rather than having to go back to your room to power up.
In Pearl Cafe and the Overlook, there are outlets at almost every chair. At bars and restaurants, you'll find them too.
Destination elevators
I never thought a new kind of elevator could have such a profound effect on crowds and waiting, but it's been a real win with the destination elevators on Icon.
Instead of traditional elevators, you go to a panel and indicate which floor you'd like to go to and are directed to a particular elevator.
Once in that elevator, there are no buttons to push and the car goes directly to the floors that have been programmed for you.
It may not seem like it would have that big of a difference, but the time spent waiting for an elevator on Icon has been substantially reduced. Even when there are big crowds, such as when a show lets out, the destination elevators more efficiently get people where they need go with less waiting.
Royal Caribbean changed to destination elevators because the cruise line knew waiting for an elevator was a problem on Oasis Class ships. Since Icon was going to have more passengers, they needed a better way to move up 7,500 passengers seamlessly.
The result has been a tremendously faster experience, and I think you'll be equally surprised how well the elevators work on Icon.
Surfside restaurants
There are many new bars, restaurants, and lounges on Icon, but I think the least-heralded ones are in Surfside because the area has been written off as "just for kids."
However, I really think you would be remiss if you didn't stop for the food in Surfside, regardless of if you have children or not with you.
There are two complimentary restaurants, as well as an a la carte restaurant.
Surfside Eatery is a buffet, and while it is intended for kids, there's a lot of good food here. Plenty of adults are picky eaters, but more importantly, plenty of adults like quesadillas, hot dogs, and fruit.
If you're really in a rush, try the popcorn chicken from Surfside Bites next door.
And the real sleeper hit of Icon of the Seas is Pier 7, which is a new specialty restaurant.
Pier 7 offers brunch and dinner, and the menu is meant to appeal to parents and kids. Essentially, there should be something for all palates here.
The menu consists of an all-day brunch, tacos, poke bowls, and more. It's priced a la carte, so you pay for you what you order. If you have the Ultimate Dining Package, you get $20 per person, per day to eat here.
Cruise ship food can get repetitive, so I appreciate that Pier 7 has more variety to consider and it's somewhere else you could go for a meal. Plus, I think having all-day brunch is going to be a popular choice for those who like to sleep in but still want breakfast.
Wizard of Oz
Photo by Woofie Al
Royal Caribbean has a well-deserved reputation for having the best entertainment at sea, and The Wizard of Oz show might be its best show yet.
As the signature show on Icon of the Seas, Oz has been highly anticipated and the show matches up nicely.
The production value is off the charts. From the set, to the costumes, to the special effects, this is no musical medley. It's on par with any stage show you might see in a city (and have to pay extra to see).
While I was disappointed all of the shows weren't available to see on the inaugural cruise, Wizard of Oz alone makes up for it all with its high quality.
Things I didn't like about Icon of the Seas
Nothing in this world is perfect, and I found a few aspects of Icon of the Seas that I think could be improved.
Staggering of Royal Promenade entertainment
One goal Royal Caribbean has had with the Royal Promenade was to make the area have much more energy, so they opened up the venues more so that you can experience a taste of what's happening inside as you walk by.
Nearly all of the venues (except The Attic) are fully open, so music can be heard from all over the Royal Promenade, making it more enticing for passengers to want to experience it all.
I love this change, but I'm not sure the timing has been well thought out.
The issue is they want certain musical acts to be playing when others aren't, and the result is it seems like you have less time to enjoy them all.
As an example, the guitarist in the pub regularly stops performing around 10:45pm so that Boleros (located across the Promenade and above) can perform. The guitarist in the pub starts earlier, but between shows and dinner, there's wasted time as I have found the pub gets busiest on other ships between 10pm and midnight.
Noise bleed is inevitably going to happen, but I don't think the entertainment needs to grind to a halt during prime time.
Suite lounge feels cramped
The suite lounge on Icon is a shared space with Coastal Kitchen, but unlike the Oasis Class ships that do the same thing, this area feels far more constricted.
As you enter the Suite Neighborhood, you'll find the suite concierge and the suite lounge hugging the left side of the area, with Coastal Kitchen taking up much of the space.
I found there just isn't a lot of seating, and what seating is there is very close together. This is especially true of the tables in Coastal Kitchen. The nice thing about Coastal Kitchen is that it encompasses two floors.
Baskets instead of drawers
This last thing I don't love is purely aesthetic, but I noticed in many standard cabins, baskets have essentially replaced a few drawers.
The problem I have with baskets is the contents are visible to someone outside the room. The baskets are too small to put larger garments in them (such as pants), so I think smaller clothing will inevitably be put in them, such as undergarments.
Regardless of what you put in them, if you have friends come to your room to hang out, the clothing is visible and that bothers me. Maybe that's just me.
Speaking of storage, there is sufficient room to put your clothes and belongings away, but it feels like there is less space than on Wonder of the Seas. I think the change is a result of removing the storage that used to be around the bed frame on other ships.
As I said, there is enough space to put belongings away, but it feels like there is less than you might otherwise have on an Oasis Class ship.
My first cruise of 2024 was on Odyssey of the Seas, and it did not disappoint! For this eight-night voyage, my mom and I visited Perfect Day at CocoCay, Aruba, and Curaçao.
I have never been to Aruba and Curaçao, so I was eager to explore both of these new-to-me ports of call. I was also excited to be sailing on Odyssey of the Seas, one of Royal Caribbean’s newest ships.
If you’re planning a cruise on Odyssey of the Seas in 2024, my experience may be helpful for you as you prepare for your cruise on this beautiful ship. Let’s get into it!
In fact, Odyssey of the Seas’ inaugural sailing was in July of 2021. She was supposed to launch earlier in 2020, but the pandemic postponed these plans.
Odyssey of the Seas is part of the Quantum Ultra Class. Spectrum of the Seas is also a part of this class, launching in 2019. Both of these Quantum Ultra ships are slightly bigger than the ships in the Quantum Class. Odyssey of the Seas’ guest capacity is 5,498 guests. The guest capacity on Quantum Class ships is around 4,900.
For this sailing, Odyssey of the Seas sailed roundtrip from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
As a cruising rule of thumb, you should always fly to the port the day before your cruise to allocate time in case of travel cancelations or delays. My mom and I were able to take a direct flight to Fort Lauderdale from our hometown in the Midwest, so that was very slick!
We stayed at the Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel in Dania Beach. I have stayed at this hotel many times (as well as the connecting hotel, AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Airport), and I couldn't recommend it enough. The location is perfect because you are near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Port Everglades. The hotel is also near the Dania Pointe shopping center and is a great place to grab dinner the night before your cruise.
The next day, we took a Lyft from our hotel to Port Everglades. The ride was 15 minutes and cost $21, including a tip.
Our check-in time was at 2 p.m. It appeared that it was going to storm around that time, so we decided to get to the port earlier (around 1:30 p.m.) to see if they would let us check in early. Luckily, there were no problems with us showing up early and we were onboard Odyssey of the Seas by 1:45 p.m.
Many cruisers want to get on the cruise as early as possible, but a benefit of getting on the ship a little later was that we could go to our cabin right away to drop off our luggage. Oftentimes, your cabin isn’t ready until a few hours after you get onboard and you have to lug around your luggage, but this isn’t the case when you check in late.
At the end of our cruise, we were in no rush to get off because our flight home wasn’t until the next day. Mom and I had a leisurely breakfast in the Windjammer at 8 a.m. and it was very busy. Since it was so crowded, I decided to swing by Café@Two70 afterward to grab an egg burrito and coffee before disembarking. Café@Two70 wasn’t nearly as busy, so I would recommend eating here on embarkation and disembarkation day.
The disembarkation process was quick since we were one of the last people to get off the ship. Finding our big luggage was also easy because everyone else had already claimed their luggage!
I usually cruise in interior cabins, and Odyssey of the Seas was no different.
Booking an inside guarantee was the cheapest cabin option for this cruise, so that is what we went with for our Southern Caribbean sailing.
Not too long after booking the cabin, we were assigned cabin 9225 on deck nine. Luckily, the cabin was located approximately midship, slightly aft. Upon walking into the cabin, we also discovered our cabin had a connecting door to our neighbor, cabin 9227. This was not an issue because our neighbors were quiet and the cabins had good soundproofing.
Our interior cabin was 166 square feet and offered so much storage. From the two large closets and dresser to the cabinets above our beds, we had more than enough places to store all of our clothes and belongings. And since this cruise was eight days, we had a lot of stuff!
We split the king bed into two twin beds so each of us could have our own bed. The beds were comfortable, though I did have to request a new pillow because the ones already there were lumpy (in my opinion). Our stateroom attendant was great about bringing us extra pillows, along with other things we needed.
Since our cabin did not have a window, there were lots of ways we could bring light into the space. There was a lamp on the dresser, a ring light around the vanity, two lights by our beds, and the main lights for the entire cabin. There was even a built-in night light in the bathroom in case we had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Overall, cabin 9225 was an excellent choice for our cruise. The location was convenient because we were in the middle of the ship, meaning we were close to the upper-deck venues as well as the lower ones.
There are many places to eat on Odyssey of the Seas, including classics such as the Windjammer Marketplace, Main Dining Room, and Café Promenade, and specialty restaurants like Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Teppanyaki, and Wonderland.
What’s great about Odyssey of the Seas is the number of included dining venues. I liked being able to go to El Loco Fresh or Solarium Bistro for a snack and Café@Two70 for breakfast or lunch. On older Royal Caribbean ships, you won’t find these options.
For breakfast, we ate at the Windjammer, Main Dining Room, Café@Two70, or the Solarium Bistro.
The Main Dining Room offered brunch on sea days from 8:30 a.m. until noon. I really liked this option because I could sleep in and not feel like I had to get up early to enjoy some breakfast food. The first time we ate here, it took a while to get our food because it was busy, but the second time we visited it was much faster.
The Solarium Bistro is also a great spot to have breakfast. I was able to order a custom omelet, something I didn’t know they offered, so I was happy! This venue was open for breakfast and dinner every day of our cruise and for lunch on sea days.
Every night for dinner, my mom and I ate in the Main Dining Room. We considered splurging on a lunch or dinner in one of the specialty restaurants, but we decided to stick with the included food because we are always satisfied in the Main Dining Room.
My favorite dishes were the chicken cordon bleu and chicken marsala, as well as the warm chocolate cake with ice cream. My mom loved the beef tenderloin, lobster, coconut shrimp, and lemon meringue tart.
We wished our table was located in the main area of the dining room, but instead, our table was assigned to a back room on deck three. Whenever there was a performance or announcement in the dining room, we couldn’t see it because we were so far away.
While our table location wasn’t the best, our waiter Ikomang and assistant waiter Putu were absolutely fabulous! They went above and beyond to give us excellent service!
With 15 decks to explore, Odyssey of the Seas has so much to do, from skydiving and surfing to bumper cars and rock climbing.
If you are going to sail on Odyssey of the Seas, I would recommend reserving a time to do the North Star and RipCord by iFly on port days when it is free. If you want to do either of these activities during a sea day, it will cost extra (around $50 per person).
When we were docked in Curaçao, I did both of these activities. My mom and I chose to do the North Star in the morning before getting off the ship to explore the city, and then I did the iFly when we were leaving Curaçao - it was beautiful to do during the sunset!
There were many production shows offered throughout the sailing. These included:
The Book: Seven Chapters, One Adventure: “Powered by our collective imaginations and told in seven extraordinary chapters, this breathtaking journey reminds us that in between the front and back covers of a great book, absolutely anything can happen!”
Showgirl! Past, Present, Future: “Paying tribute to the past, the present, and the future of this enigmatic and famous performer, this new dance spectacular takes us on a stunning journey that features one of the most iconic of all entertainers, the beautiful Showgirl.”
The Effectors: “Join Pixel, Reverb, Lume, and Captain Viz as they individually demonstrate their awesome powers and then come together to battle their arch nemesis, Crash, as he tries once again to stop the show and destroy the city of Showville.”
I thoroughly enjoyed all three of these shows! The costumes, choreography, singing, and dancing were all top-notch. I wish they had The Effectors more than one night because I would’ve liked to have seen it again. The Book was offered almost every night of the cruise.
We also saw a late-night comedy show, the band Rookie, a singer, and a magician/illusionist. At night, we would often swing by and listen to Bryan James perform in the Crown & Compass Pub. He was a great performer and truly engaged with the audience!
Something to note is that the VR experience, Zone Zero, was closed the entire cruise. We learned that in the near future, Royal Caribbean will be removing this venue as well as the Skypad, which is currently being used for bean bag toss and stretching classes.
During our eight-day cruise, we had three ports of call and five sea days. They were nicely spaced out, with Perfect Day at CocoCay being on our second day, then two sea days, our two stops in the Southern Caribbean, and then two sea days back to Fort Lauderdale.
Our first stop was Perfect Day at CocoCay. The weather was cloudy and a little foggy when we arrived, and as the day went on, we had some wind and rain. Despite the weather, we still enjoyed walking around and having lunch on the island at Snack Shack.
We were warned about the high winds we were going to have en route to Aruba, and they were right. Mom heard that there were 15-foot swells! I felt the ship sway more than I have on other ships, but it was never bad enough that I needed to take motion sickness medication. I think having our cabin in the middle of the ship helped with less motion too.
On day five, we arrived in Oranjestad, Aruba. Here, we did the “Aloe Factory, Casibari Rock, Natural Bridge Scenic Drive” excursion. This excursion was about 3.5 hours - the perfect amount of time to get a glimpse of what the island has to offer. My mom and I liked this excursion because we were able to visit the highlights of the island and also drive around to see the beautiful beaches and resorts. I would love to come back someday and visit one of these resorts, like RIU Palace!
The next day, we were docked in Willemstad, Curaçao. My mom had been here before, so she recommended we walk around the city because there is lots of shopping nearby. Within a few minutes, we crossed the bridge and were in the heart of the city. Willemstad is so pretty with all of the colorful buildings, so I enjoyed walking and admiring the views!
Everything onboard Odyssey of the Seas felt modern and new, and she is in excellent condition.
I have no complaints about this ship. The only slightly annoying thing was the elevator buttons. I like how they are touchless, but I found that people did not understand how to use them. There were so many times when I would see people lean against the buttons and accidentally push every floor, causing the elevator to stop multiple times.
Our sailing was nearly at full capacity but did not feel crowded. There was a time or two on the pool deck or in the Windjammer when it was super busy, but I was always able to find a place to go for some quiet time, like the Solarium or Crown Lounge.
Odyssey of the Seas is a great ship to consider for your next vacation!
I've spent over a week on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas and it's an impressive cruise ship, but there are some important things you'll want to do to maximize it all.
Royal Caribbean calls Icon of the Seas a "white paper ship", because it was designed from scratch to incorporate the line's best ideas. Suffice to say, I've heard so many great things from other passengers on how impressed they are. Destination elevators, an expansive pool deck neighborhood, more for the kids than ever, and new entertainment venues are just some of the early wins.
I got to thinking how could someone going on Icon truly get the most out of their vacation. I thought about the ways anyone could save time, money, and their sanity, by embracing a few easy tips to have a better cruise.
Icon is a giant ship, but don't let its size overwhelm you. There's easy ways to make it all work.
Get to know the neighborhoods
Understanding the layout of Icon of the Seas is probably the first thing you should figure out.
Icon borrows the neighborhood concept from the Oasis Class cruise ships, but it's far from a copy-and-paste job. The layout is notably different, and you may find yourself early on trying to figure out which area has which venue.
At the risk of making a shameless plug, we put together a walkthrough video tour that you can watch to easily get a sense of where everything is before the cruise begins. While deck maps are also available, I think they are not as intuitive to understanding layout and flow.
Once you get on Icon of the Seas, be sure to walk around a lot on the first day so you can get your bearings.
One thing you'll notice is how inviting each neighborhood is, and how you might be drawn in immediately to one area and realize you haven't made it to a different neighborhood yet. Royal Caribbean wanted the ship to offer something for everyone, and I found I would wander into one area and hang out there longer than I anticipated.
You may find yourself drawn into an a lounge, pool, or activity and spend more time there than you anticipated because it's just that endearing.
You can use the Royal Caribbean app for much more on Icon
Royal Caribbean has introduced new app features first just for Icon of the Seas, so be sure to take advantage of them (so be sure to download the app before the cruise).
In addition to the repertoire of useful functionality, the Royal Caribbean app has new features that you can now use:
Express Boarding
Guests who check-in ahead of time and scan their documents get to go through the “Express Boarding” and breeze through the cruise terminal in minutes
Faster WiFi access
Once shipboard, guests can connect directly to WiFi and their Internet plans through the app (rather than going into their phone settings or dealing with a captive portal).
AI Help
Guests can now get help from a chatbot or chat with a Guest Services agent through the Royal Caribbean app.
The Guest Services team now has a Virtual Queueing system to schedule and manage guest visits.
Dinner reservations
Guests receive push notifications when their tables are ready for main dining, helping reduce the pre-dinner crowds.
Easier photo purchases
And guests can view and purchase photos directly through the app, instead of having to visit and crowd around kiosks.
Pre-book your shows whenever possible
Royal Caribbean allows guests to book tickets to their shows in the weeks leading up to their cruise and this is not just a good idea, it's a must-do.
The hottest ticket on Icon of the Seas are the top shows: Aqua Action, Wizard of Oz, and Starburst. Even the comedy shows are tough to book too.
Theoretically, Royal Caribbean puts its tickets to book 30 days before the cruise from the Cruise Planner website. For at least the first few sailings, the cruise line has needed more time to get its reservations open.
Regardless of when they're available, book shows to ensure you get in easily.
There will also be tickets made available on the ship. There's a box office you can visit to get reservations on embarkation day, so that's a good back-up option.
Arrive very early for standby shows
Photo by Beci Mahnken
If you don't get a ticket, don't fret, you can still likely get in the show but you'll need to be an early bird.
There is a standby line for each show, and the key is to get in the standby line early. I would recommend getting in line at least 30-45 minutes before the listed start time to be able to be among the first to enter the theater once they admit standby line guests in.
Even if you have a ticket, I'd still recommend getting to the show early. Seating is limited in many venues, especially the AquaTheater. Remember, your ticket assures you of a seat, but not necessarily the best seat. So arrive early.
Don't overlook the great included food options
It's so tempting to book specialty restaurants, but the restaurants included with your fare are not bad at all on Icon.
Pearl Cafe has replaced Cafe Promenade, and it offers grab-and-go snacks 24 hours a day. It's a significant upgrade in terms of food quality and selection.
Perhaps the best complimentary restaurant to come out of Royal Caribbean in at least a decade is the Aquadome Market.
This is Royal Caribbean's first food hall, and it is really good. You have the choice of Greek, mac and cheese, crepes, Asian, or salads. It's all freshly made, and it's the kind of food you'll want to go back again to get more.
Surfside might be the new neighborhood for young families, but don't skip the restaurants here. There's two included restaurants that serve up a lot of comfort food: Surfside Bites and Surfside Eatery.
Whether you want to keep your laptop, iPhone, or any electronic device powered up, it's easier on Icon.
There are so many more outlets in public venues than ever before. On older ships, it's a miracle if you can find a single electric plug to use around the ship because ships were not designed with USB or 120V outlets in mind.
Around Icon, there are lots of outlets you can use. As more people work remotely from cruise ships (thank you Starlink internet), there's more of a need to have power. Plus, sometimes you just want to keep your phone going because you used a lot of battery already listening to music.
Pearl Cafe in particular has a ton of outlets, as does the Overlook in the Aquadome. Most bars have plugs as well that you can use.
Book your cruise early for the best price
If Icon of the Seas sounds like a fantastic cruise ship to sail on, you will want to book it as early as possible.
Cruise prices are dynamic, but as rooms get booked up, inventory drops and prices go up. Demand for Icon of the Seas is so strong right now that you cannot expect a price drop.
Your best strategy for getting a good price on Icon is to book early, like right now. The earlier you book, you can lock in the price.
The cruise industry is experiencing unparalleled demand, and you'll see that in the prices. Icon is a premium ship with premium pricing, so booking early is your best plan (rather than waiting for a last-minute deal).
Icon of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature infinite balconies, so I decided to book this type of cabin to see what it was like.
Specifically, I booked an infinite cabin that offered views of Central Park, the open-air neighborhood with bars, shops, restaurants, and thousands of real plants.
Icon of the Seas has 196 of these Central Park infinite balconies.
Let’s take a look at what a Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony cabin looks like on the new Icon of the Seas.
Cabin 10225 is located on deck 10, midship. The living area/bathroom is 200 square feet and the balcony is 50 square feet. These cabins can sleep three to four people.
The total for two people to sail in this cabin was around $5,180. Keep in mind this was during the inaugural sailing, a seven-day Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise.
The first thing I noticed when walking into my cabin was all the colors. There are lots of accents of yellow and blue, and the colors are not too obnoxious. I liked the subtle pops of yellow throughout the cabin.
The king bed can be split into two twin beds if two people are sailing in this cabin. On each side of the bed is a light and USB plugin.
On one side of the bed is the telephone and a side table with two shelves. The other side of the bed has a light switch that turns on and off all the lights in the room. There is also a regular U.S. plugin if you need to have a device charging next to you when you sleep. There’s only one shelf on this side of the bed.
The smart TV is across from the bed and can be seen from the couch, bed, or infinite balcony.
The couch is quite long and has cute decorative pillows. Some cabins have a trundle bed to sleep another person, but my cabin didn’t have this, hence it was a regular couch. I found the couch to be comfortable, but I did not have a ton of space to spread out when I would lie down on it.
The vanity is also long - pretty much the same length as the couch. There are numerous outlets, which I love because of my many electronic devices that need to be charged on a daily basis. The vanity has two USB-C outlets, a European outlet, two USB outlets, and one 120-volt outlet.
In the vanity, you can also see that there are five shelves to store your belongings. Three of the shelves are not as deep as the other two, but I could still fit plenty of things inside. The mini cooler was perfect for me so I could store my water bottles in there.
There’s a good amount of storage in the cabin, including shelves by the TV, a hidden closet/mirror by the bathroom, and a closet.
The closet is unique in that it has one full-length section and then a closet that takes up ¾ of the space with baskets below, taking up the other ¼ of the space. There are 24 hangers and four baskets.
The full-length closet is skinny and can fit a few full-length outfits. I used this closet to store my carry-on luggage and backpack. The other closet is where I hung up all of my dresses, tops, and jumpsuits.
Having baskets is an interesting concept. I like the idea of them, but I wish they were basket drawers instead of actual baskets. With these baskets, you pretty much have to pick them up and take them out. You can pull them towards you, but I think this will leave marks on the cabinet over time. I feel drawers would be much easier because they would just slide open and shut, preventing any skid marks and scuffs.
I just stayed in an inside cabin on Odyssey of the Seas, and I loved the closet situation on that ship - the closet was way bigger and could fit so much! On this Icon of the Seas cabin, I felt there was less closet space in comparison.
The infinite balcony includes two chairs, an ottoman, and a small table. There is a large green shutter that covers part of the balcony view.
Of course, I also noticed the giant brown area right below my cabin. At first, I didn’t know what this was - I thought it was one of the restaurants or bars. Come to find out, it’s actually an entrance to the Royal Promenade where the Pearl is!
I would’ve much preferred a cabin without this large obstruction. There was no indication of this cabin being obstructed when I booked it, but I think it should specify that when selecting this cabin. With the Pearl right below me, I feel like I didn’t get to see as much of Central Park as I would’ve liked.
You can control the infinite balcony blinds from the control panel by the window or on the thermostat by the bathroom. To open and close the infinite balcony window, you need to use the control panel that’s located next to the window. The blinds do a great job of keeping the cabin dark at night while sleeping.
If you select the movie or sleep setting on the thermostat, the blinds will close at the same time the lights turn off. For the evening setting, the blinds will stay open. There’s also a curtain that can be utilized to create division between the balcony and living space.
As for noise, I didn’t hear anything at night when I was trying to sleep. However during the daytime when I was relaxing in my room, I could hear music from the pool deck. It wasn’t super loud, but it was a muffled noise. This could be a problem for those who like to nap during the day.
I did like the bathroom, as it was spacious and modern. The shower was nice and big, and even had a seat which is something I have not seen on a cruise ship!
Another thing I have not seen on a cruise ship was the towel rack inside the shower. This proved to be great because instead of taking a shower and stepping out into the cold to grab your towel, you can just stay in the shower and dry off with your towel right there.
The bathroom has three shelves next to the sink, three shelves below the sink, and three shelves by the toilet. There’s also a deep drawer that can store tall items, like shampoo and conditioner bottles.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay in this ultra-modern stateroom. Being on the 10th deck in the middle of the ship meant I was close to locations in the front and back of the ship.
There are a few things that I wish were different about the cabin (like the closet baskets and the view from my balcony), but they were small things that did not negatively impact my experience.
Would you stay in this cabin? Let us know in the comments!
We asked thirteen chefs and food-obsessed executives to debate the most memorable plates on Royal Caribbean's newest ship.
There are dozens of restaurants and bars on Icon of the Seas to try, so how how do you sift through every single one and choose the most essential dishes?
I struggled with trying to sample everything on my short Icon of the Seas preview sailing that the cruise line invited me on in the days before the new ship's maiden voyage.
It occurred to me that it would make sense to go straight to the source and ask some of the chefs, senior staff, and executives for their picks. Some of them had been on Icon for nearly a month, and had gone through preparing the venues for paying customers. As a result, they tried a lot of the food.
I was surprised by the breadth of answers I got. I was initially worried about repetition in answers, but it turned out there are a number of great picks among the list I compiled.
Here's a list of the top dishes and drinks straight from the top of Royal Caribbean.
1. Chilean Sea Bass at Empire Supper Club
Three different people picked the Chilean Sea Bass as their favorite dish, and that caught my attention when I went to eat there.
Empire Supper Club is a brand new concept for Royal Caribbean. The line has never done an intimate dining experience that incorporated entertainment, cuisine, and formality like this, and the finished product is quite impressive.
Among the three entrees you can choose from, the Chilean Sea Bass stands out for how much flavor it has and how tender it is. It's a cliche to say food melts, but this one really does.
Izumi Master Chef Travis Kamiyama, Royal Caribbean International Chief Marketing Officer Kara Wallace, and Royal Caribbean International Senior Director of Fleet Restaurant Operations Dominique Gamba all chose this as their favorite food on Icon of the Seas.
To the best of my knowledge, Royal Caribbean has never served Chilean Sea Bass before at another venue, but it turned out to be a great choice. You can also try the steak or rabbit at Empire Supper Club, but given how highly recommended the Sea Bass is, it's difficult to pass up.
2. Gyros at Aquadome Market
Aquadome Market is another brand new dining concept on Icon of the Seas, and it's Royal Caribbean's first foray into a food hall. And it's complimentary!
I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the Aquadome Market when the cruise line was testing out a bare bones concept at its Innovation Lab in Miami. Even in that form, I was impressed by the food ideas the culinary team came up with.
Paul Fortin, Senior Director of Culinary Operations (and a chef), picked the gyros from the Feta station, as did Thierry Houlbert, Senior Traveling Corporate Pastry Chef.
It's easy to see why the gyros are a great choice. They're freshly made when you order them, it uses fresh ingredients, and it's a satisfying street food dish.
Feta offers pork or chicken gyro meat, as well as falafel. And since it's in the food hall, you can also grab mac and cheese, crepes, and a salad at one of the other stations too.
3. Giant meatball at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen
Royal Caribbean brought back Giovanni's Italian Kitchen to Icon of the Seas, which is the line's preeminent Italian specialty restaurant.
Among the dishes you'll find at Giovanni's, is an aptly named appetizer, the Giant Meatball.
It's doused in Parmesan cheese, surrounded by marinara sauce, stuffed with spinach, and it was the dish that Director, Entertainment & Guest Activities at Royal Caribbean International, Ken Rush picked out immediately.
Like so many dishes at Giovanni's, the meatball is a comfort food and classic dish.
4. Amuse-bouche at Empire Supper Club
Another entry from Empire Supper Club is actually something you won't find listed on the menu.
This new restaurant boasts eight courses, including a very tasty start to the meal.
Royal Caribbean International Assistant Vice President of Guest Experience, Aurora Yera-Rodriguez, chose the amuse-bouche (pronounced ahmooz-boosh).
This is a French term that comes from the combined words amuser (to amuse), and bouche (mouth), and it's a tiny bagel topped with cheese and caviar.
5. Pepperoni pizza at Sorrento's
When I asked Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley his favorite food on Icon of the Seas, I don't think I would have predicted pizza would have been his choice.
Sorrento's is the well-known pizza chain on most of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships. Pizza might not be the most impressive food on Icon, but darn if it's not a good eat everytime you have it.
Mr. Bayley (AKA Bada-Bling Bayley) picked the pepperoni pizza specifically, noting it was something he always eats on any cruise.
6. Korean Fried Chicken at Pier 7
Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, is responsible for all the dining venues on Icon of the Seas. In fact, he lead all the dining initiatives around the fleet, so he has had his hand in pretty much every aspect of eating on Icon of the Seas.
Mr. D'Souza picked a restaurant from the new family-friendly neighborhood of Surfside.
Pier 7 is the first family-oriented specialty restaurant that is free for kids, and only the adults pay for it.
Mr. D'Souza chose the Korean Fried Chicken as his top dish, and he's become quite the connoisseur of fried chicken during his tenure at Royal Caribbean. You'll find a fried chicken dish at the Mason Jar and Portside BBQ, both of which are new venues that he lead the creation of on other ships.
7. Goat cheese salad at Chops Grille
Chops Grille is on every single Royal Caribbean cruise ship, and its menu is among the most well-known. That might be why Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty picked something from its menu.
His choice was the Goat Cheese salad appetizer, which features a bed of greens topped with a large fried piece of goat cheese.
The crispy goat cheese salad is served with green apples, candied walnuts, cranberries, and balsamic dressing.
It's creamy and delicious, with a tang from the balsamic dressing and sour green apples.
Mr. Liberty also gave an honorable mention to the Penne alla Puttanseca with Salmon from Giovanni's Italian Kitchen as another of his favorite foods on Icon of the Seas.
8. Raviolo at Empire Supper Club
Yet another pick from Empire Supper Club is from Heather Hust Rivera, Royal Caribbean Group Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer.
She chose the Raviolo, which is served towards the beginning of the meal.
Paired with the Staten Island Spritz, the Raviolo is a pasta with a soft egg yolk inside, surrounded by a lovely sauce.
A raviolo is a single, large piece that is served as its own dish, and our team ranked it at the very top of the Empire Supper Club's menu.
9. Tomahawk steak at Chops Grille
On Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean introduced a new sub menu to the Chops Grille menu that offers higher quality cuts of meat to enjoy.
There's waygu beef, Porterhouse, and a Tomahawk steak (among other choices). The extra cost these steaks have serve up the sort of steaks you'd find at a high-end land restaurant.
Sean Treacy is Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, and he chose the tomahawk steak specifically.
I tried it out too, and it's a giant cut of meat. It's 32oz and can easily be shared with someone given its size.
What makes a tomahawk steak taste so good is the fat mixes with the elements released from the large bone. The rich flavor is why so many people prefer it.
Speaking of the Iconic cuts, Chef Travis Kamiyama also chose the Waygu Beef from this menu as a favorite of his.
10. Jazzy sass from Lou's Jazz 'n Blues
When I asked Ed Eiswirth for his top recommendation from Icon of the Seas, he went with the cocktail he loves the most.
He went with the Jazzy Sass from the new jazz club, Lou's Jazz 'n Blues.
I've known Mr. Eiswirth for a few years, so I know how much he loves his bourbons and this new cocktail stands out as something unconventional, yet tasty.
His team wanted to come up with drink ideas that went beyond the stereotypical drinks most people associate with a cruise ship. While there's nothing wrong with a pina colada or margarita, they sought to find something else to give passengers an opportunity to discover a new favorite.
Can you imagine spending an entire day at Perfect Day at CocoCay by yourself?
MrBeast, YouTube's most acclaimed entertainment star, visited CocoCay with three of his friends to experience everything the $250 million island has to offer.
Jimmy Donaldson, who is known by his alias MrBeast, has over 230 million subscribers. Since joining YouTube in 2012, he has amassed over 42 billion views! He was also the second YouTube creator to surpass 100 million subscribers.
In a recent video, he spent the afternoon at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, to compare it to other private islands around the world. Since published, the video has received over 62 million views.
"Literally anything you could ever want is on this private island," he said.
MrBeast isn't just a content creator
In addition to being a popular content creator and social media star, he's also a philanthropist who has founded and co-founded different organizations and fundraisers, including Team Trees, which raised 20 million dollars before the start of 2020 to plant 20 million trees.
He has a second YouTube channel called "Beast Philanthropy," in which he states that 100% of the profits from ads, merch sales, and sponsorships will go towards making the world a better place.
While not as popular as his primary account, it still has over 20 million subscribers!
A glimpse at private islands around the world
After purchasing a small island for $1, MrBeast proceeded to blow it up since "...there was nothing [there]." He and his crew then made their way to Monkey Island, a $1 million island that's swarming with literal monkeys.
The next island on their list was pretty different from CocoCay, so they had to trade in their swim trunks and flip-flops for parkas and beanies. To reach the island, they had to ride in hovercrafts since the lake was frozen solid!
While not an adventure on one of the world's largest cruise ships, it certainly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Activities here included hanging out with sled dogs and getting some pretty amazing views of the Northern Lights!
Necker Island, the $150 million island, was nothing short of luxurious. It took over four decades to build and is owned by Richard Branson.
MrBeast said that for every person in your travel party, there are ten staff members to wait on your every need, even if it's just cheering you on during a solo game of pool.
One of the buildings has a golfing range on the roof with balls made of fish food, so they're safe to be hit into the sea!
The last (and most expensive) island that he visited was CocoCay
Located roughly 140 miles off the coast of Miami is Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island that underwent an extensive $250 million renovation in 2019. This renovation added tons of new activities, as well as a colorful pier, so guests do not have to board a tender to get ashore.
"This extraordinary island has an entire amusement park with over a dozen water slides," he said referring to Thrill Waterpark.
Admission to the water park isn't included in the cost of your cruise; the price usually ranges from $89 to $169 per person.
"In the middle of the island is a massive water slide. Even though literal 8-year-olds ride that water slide, I might still chicken out because I'm afraid of heights," joked MrBeast.
Recently, Royal Caribbean added the Tailspain, a family flume-style ride that's located at the Splash Summit Tower.
While MrBeast and his posse ended up trying out the new slide for themselves, they first sent all the lifeguards down! They figured that, with only four guests on the island, they didn't need 100+ lifeguards at work.
The other tower in the park, Daredevil's Tower, is home to the tallest water slide in North America: Daredevil's Peak.
"Daredevil's Peak, what a soothing name," said MrBeast before he began the climb up.
After losing "nose goes," his friend Nolan was the first to ride the slide. He remarked that he felt like he was hit by a truck! MrBeast claimed that he felt as though he was drowning the entire time.
Earlier in the day, the friends spent time trying out other activities, including the 1,600-foot zip line. Like Thrill Waterpark, the zip line costs extra. For my upcoming cruise onboard Celebrity Reflection in April, it's currently available for $92 per person.
In addition to the obvious beaches, CocoCay has numerous offerings for those who don't want to spend any additional money, such as basketball, corn hole, ping-pong, and even an enlarged soccer ball pool.
Perfect Day at CocoCay is also home to the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean: Oasis Lagoon.
Something that he didn't touch on was the brand-new Hideaway Beach, the extra cost adults-only retreat for guests 18+. For those who splurge on admission, they'll find a private beach, two pools, 20 cabanas, seven open-air bars, dining options, and more.
They also didn't venture to Coco Beach Club, the island's exclusive enclave for those who value a more elevated experience. In addition to a private beach, Coco Beach Club guests have an upscale restaurant included in the cost where they can order things like filet mignon, lobster, etc.
From Thrill Waterpark to simply enjoying each other's company over a friendly game of basketball and making new animal friends while walking from one activity to the next, it was impossible to fully experience everything in such a short period, even though they had the island to themselves.
"This island has things that I didn't even know existed," MrBeast said.
Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.
Hideaway Beach includes a beach, infinity pool, new restaurants and more. Plus, it's an enclave for adults who want a break from the family activities elsewhere on the island.
Before you buy a pass, here's what to expect and what you should know.
I designed 13 new bar menus for Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas has 13 new bar concepts, and that meant coming up with cocktails to offer in each one.
One of the primary goals of creating new bar menus was offering something more than just the typical cruise ship beverage, and the result was 100 new cocktails (65 with alcohol).
Is the world's largest cruise ship crowded? Not as much as you might fear
There's going to be a lot of people on any of its sailings, but Royal Caribbean has designed the ship to offer more activities and ways to keep people moving to mitigate crowding.
While the new ship won't feel like a private yacht by any means, it's also unlikely you will feel packed in as much as you might otherwise believe.
The foods offered can satisfy every craving, from late-night pizza to mouthwatering steaks, seafood, or even fresh salad.
But despite the variety of options, cruise lines aren’t exactly known for high-quality food.
While meals will still taste delicious, the ingredients won’t be the same quality you can expect from fine dining on land.
And there’s always the risk of disease or stomach discomfort while cruising. Many first-time cruisers complain of an upset stomach, or even nausea and vomiting.
The last thing you want is an unhappy stomach ruining your cruise vacation.
To ensure smooth sailing, stay mindful of the foods you do consume on your cruise.
Whether you have a sensitive stomach, want to eat healthier, or simply feel the need to be careful, stay wary of these 9 foods you should never eat on a cruise.
1. Old, congealed pizza
Pizza is one of the most popular offerings on Royal Caribbean cruises but keep an eye out for any older pieces.
If you happen upon a piece of pizza that looks cloudy, with congealed cheese, it’s probably been sitting out for a while.
Especially if it’s not a peak mealtime, and you’re looking for an afternoon or evening snack, this is normal.
You can always ask for a new pizza or head to a venue with more fresh ingredients.
Sorrento’s pizza usually has fresh, warm slices, so just keep your eyes peeled!
2. Communal condiments
Crew members at the Windjammer buffet always encourage guests to wash their hands before entering.
However, you have no way to confirm if absolutely everyone has scrubbed their hands with soap and warm water before grabbing food at the buffet.
When you see those large stations of communal condiments, just keep in mind that others have probably touched those stations.
Additionally, condiments are supposed to be refrigerated after they're opened. But you’ll notice that they are left out in the open for hours on cruise ships.
Some areas even have condiment stations outdoors, like on Perfect day at Cococay.
Since the outdoor temperature can’t be controlled, the chances of pathogenic bacteria growing increases.
This can leave you vulnerable to getting food poisoning on your vacation.
For those reasons, be careful when it comes to grabbing condiments.
You may want to think twice before pumping ketchup on your burger and then grabbing it with your hands.
3. Tap water in port
In a tropical, outdoorsy environment like a cruise, staying hydrated is important.
If you don’t drink water consistently, you might find yourself with a pulsing headache in the middle of an activity.
Drinking water is always included in your base fare with Royal Caribbean. This doesn’t include plastic water bottles, but you can always bring a refillable water bottle along with you.
This ensures that you’re always carrying around healthy drinking water.
Tap water may not always be safe in certain port destinations, carrying the risk of waterborne illnesses. Some countries may not have clean drinking water, or they might just contain bacteria your body is unfamiliar with.
Always be mindful that you’re not drinking contaminated tap water!
Drinking dirty water is a surefire way to quickly ruin your trip since you’ll probably have to stay close to the bathroom for some time.
Scrambled eggs are typically a great go-to for some morning protein.
On cruise ships, however, the buffet eggs tend to be a miss. It’s not uncommon for a cruise line to use powdered eggs, which have a squishy, water texture.
Even if the eggs are prepared fresh, they dry out quickly when kept under heat lamps.
Instead, try heading to the made-to-order section and getting an omelet.
You will be guaranteed fresh eggs that you can customize with spinach, cheese, and more.
5. Breakfast bacon
When it comes to breakfast at the Windjammer, there’s one other food item I always avoid: bacon.
I love good, smoky pieces of bacon for breakfast. But every time I’ve tried the bacon at the windjammer, it is lukewarm and impossibly greasy.
Every slice tastes like oily crayons and leaves a thick film on my plate.
Of course, taste is subjective to personal preferences. It could be that I find the meat too overcooked, and others might still enjoy it.
But it’s an objective fact that overly greasy bacon is lower quality and unhealthy in the long run.
To avoid ruining your appetite for the rest of the day, don’t try the bacon for breakfast.
Stick to fruit, coffee, muffins, and other tasty morning offerings at the windjammer.
6. Don't overdo it with dinner rolls
Dinner rolls at the main dining room are a delicious bread appetizer. Don’t avoid them completely, but do approach the rolls with caution.
If you eat too many, you won’t have room left for your remaining appetizer, entree, or dessert.
At a multiple-course meal like those served in the Main Dining Room, it’s key to pace yourself.
It’s tempting and easy to go overboard on a cruise with unlimited food options.
But be careful to monitor what you eat. Consider if you’re eating just because you can, or if you’re actually hungry.
Don’t overload your stomach just because the food looks tasty!
7. Alcohol on an empty stomach
I'd like to end with an encouragement that you do eat on your cruise. Take advantage of the many types of food you have available to you!
Additionally, you want to eat frequently enough that you won't be drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. Drinking on an empty stomach will increase the effects of alcohol and increase the rate at which you could have an unsafe amount of alcohol in your system.
You’ll feel worse, and probably end up with a nasty hangover.
Ultimately, prioritize taking care of your health so that you can enjoy your vacation to its fullest.
It doesn't look like Royal Caribbean will offer all-inclusive prices for a cruise anytime soon.
Royal Caribbean cruise fares typically offer a modular approach to pricing, where the base fare gets you on the cruise with a certain subset of included amenities. Everything else costs extra, including shore excursions, most drinks, gratuities, and more.
Other cruise lines have recently made a shift to include more in their cruise fare, such as Celebrity Cruises which includes a basic drink package and internet package with its All Included fare.
A travel agent sailing on a preview sailing of Icon of the Seas asked Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley if his cruise line would make a similar move, and Mr. Bayley balked at the suggestion.
Half of passengers don't want a drink package
It doesn't seem like Mr. Bayley sees a need to include a drink package as part of the cruise fare.
Celebrity's drink package is similar to Royal Caribbean's deluxe beverage package in the sense it includes many extra cost drinks, such as beers, cocktails, sodas, and more.
"We've learned that unbundling is much easier and better for the guest. It also gets the price point in front of the customer, especially for families. And remember family is our is our real core target market."
Royal Caribbean's commitment to being a family cruise line above all else is self-evident with the launch of Icon of the Seas, which it considers the best alternative to a family land vacation to a place like Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Icon of the Seas features more for families to than any other ship before, and not just kids. It's designed for every member of the family.
The ship has eight neighborhoods offering an entire waterpark onboard, FlowRider surf simulator, mini-golf, and rock climbing.
Chill Island has seven different pools, with plenty of chairs nearby to enjoy the sun or shade.
Surfside is an entire area of the ship designed for young families. Parents can enjoy the Water's Edge pool at the back of the ship, while their kids enjoy Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. Surfside also has three restaurants, an arcade, carousel, and lots of things to climb.
Unbundling offers choices
Mr. Bayley's comments focused on how much customers prefer having the discretion to add-on certain extra charges, rather than paying more up-front for a cruise fare.
"When you unbundle everything, it gives people choice and it pushes the pricing closer to their budget, which is a really important thing for families," he continued.
"We feel like the pricing strategy that we have on the bundling, unbundling is the right path to go."
Mr. Bayley's comments echo what travel agents have been told before. In 2020, Royal Caribbean Director of Revenue Strategy, Brittany Briggs, had a similar response when her team was asked during a webinar about all-inclusive pricing.
"We're a multigenerational cruise line with a lot of family sailing with us, so we do want to continue to be a family brand. I don't think this direction is a good fit for us," Ms. Briggs said.
"At this time we're not considering changing our pricing structure as we are truly focusing our on board experience for all of our guests."
Star Class is the exception
Mr. Bayley was quick to point out that if you move to Star Class cabins, you'll get as close to all-inclusive as Royal Caribbean can get.
"Around 10% of our total inventory, it falls into the suite category overall. So I think we're in the right place."
Is Crown's Edge too expensive?
Speaking of things that cost extra on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Mr. Bayley also took time to address concerns that the Crown's Edge experience is too pricey.
Crown's Edge is part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride, and an all-out test of courage. It's a ropes course-style attraction that goes around the ship's Crown and Anchor logo.
Mr. Bayley pushed back on calls for a lower price because of everything involved to make it happen, "when you experience that and you see what's involved in it, there's multiple staff interactions. There's a huge amount of safety involved in it. There's a video that records your whole experience that you then receive on your phone. There's a lot that comes with the experience."
He also added that pricing helps control demand in many cases for limited opportunity experiences, "sometimes pricing is to manage just the sheer volume of expectations."
When it comes to pricing, Mr. Bayley believes a higher price is acceptable if the product matches it, "we've also learned is that if you have a genuine quality product that ticks the box and delivers the goods to the customer, you'd be surprised at how the customer is willing to pay the price for that product."
"For example, with the overwater cabanas in Coco Cay. If you've experienced the overwater cabanas, it is literally like going to heaven for the day."
"It's not cheap, but people have the most remarkable experience and they're willing to pay for that... We feel like we're on the right track."
Ultimately, he is waiting for feedback from passengers on a revenue sailing, "as we go through the next several weeks, we'll get a lot of feedback from our revenue customers. They are going to tell us that this works or that doesn't."
Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial fan blog written for other fans of Royal Caribbean International. The Royal Caribbean Blog is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International
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