Royal Caribbean Blog

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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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.

As older adults are on fixed budgets but still wanting to travel, that leaves many wondering whether Royal Caribbean has discounts in place that specifically cater to senior citizens.

As cruising becomes even more popular than ever, older adults remain one of the core demographics embracing this type of vacation.

Retirees and seniors have traditionally been a major customer base for Royal Caribbean, and all nearly all cruise lines.

The short answer is Royal Caribbean does offer a discount for seniors, but it's a bit more complicated than a yes or no question.

There are cruise fare discounts for senior citizens sometimes offered

There are series of questions you'll be asked when booking any Royal Caribbean cruise to see if you potentially qualify for additional discounts.

Royal Caribbean says it offers "reduced senior prices only on selected sailings" to passengers who are 55 years of age and older.

As you go through the booking process on Royal Caribbean's website, you can see if your chosen trip qualifies for a senior discount.

When you get to the step that asks for the number of guests, click “Apply a promo code and exclusive rates.” A pop-up will open that lets you select the kind of discount you want. Select “Seniors (Age 55+)” and click “Apply discounts.” 

Your travel agent can check for the same discount.

Jenn Greene is a travel agent with MEI Travel and said finding a special rate for seniors is hit or miss, "Senior Discounts with Royal Caribbean can be a bit of a guessing game. A Senior is 55+ but that does not guarantee a discount. It is ship/sailing specific. 

"I never have any luck with them on newer ships, but do find them for Freedom class and older, they also pop up for Alaska. If a client is already booked I do check to see if there has been a senior discount released each week, it’s usually a 50/50 shot at finding it."

Royal Caribbean message board user FionaMG shared they are occasionally able to save some money with the senior rates.

"We have had some success with getting them and sometimes the savings have been substantial."

"On Odyssey in May last year we got $402 in senior savings, $538 on Anthem in September last year and again on Anthem but in April this year, $137 on one cabin (booked just for me) and $182 on our other cabin."

There's no harm in at least trying to see if special rates may apply.

Before you get your credit card out to take advantage of this offer, there's a catch.

In reality, the senior discount rarely applies because it's not usually combinable with other, more lucrative discounts. While some offers can be stacked, the senior discount isn't usually one of them.

Ditto for the military veteran discount or special rates for police and firefighters.

To be fair, Royal Caribbean will offer the lowest price it can, regardless of your age.

Seniors can still save money at Royal Caribbean — here's how

While you may not be able to get ta discount on your cruise fare, those 55+ can still find ways to save even more money by cruising with Royal Caribbean.

Cruisers have spotted pre-cruise discounts exclusively for seniors in the Royal Caribbean app.

These Cruise Planner sales offers additional money off for seniors on purchases like a drink package, the spa, or high speed internet.

Royal Caribbean likes to experiment with offers targeting seniors, top tier Crown and Anchor members, and more. If you book a cruise far enough in advance, there's a good chance you'll be able to qualify for one of these offers.

Another source of discounts could be through an AARP membership.

AARP sells gift cards to Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. In fact, they sometimes have a 10% discount on Royal Caribbean gift cards purchased through them.

Be sure to read the redemption rules for a gift card bought through AARP, as there are specific redemption rules you have to follow. As long as you follow the instructions AARP/Royal Caribbean provides you, there should not be any issues using them.

Even if you can't get a special rate for your age, there's a good strategy to take advantage of that will probably net you a better price.

Since retirees don't have to worry about a school calendar or getting days off from work, you can take advantage of lower pricing during shoulder seasons.

Going on a cruise at the beginning or end of a cruise season when demand is lower is one of the best ways to save money and enjoy less crowds in port while on a cruise.

As an example, an Alaska cruise in May or September will be cheaper. Ditto for September or October in the Caribbean.

Take advantage of senior discounts on your travel before or after the cruise

You'll need to get to the embarkation port, and that may involve flights, hotels, or rental cars. These are all services that also offer senior discounts.

Hotels, rental cars, and even airlines are known for offering special rates for those 55 or 65 and older.

I always recommend going at least a day or two early to the city your ship leaves from to avoid a travel delay impacting your ability to get on your cruise. When planning a trip, there are additional ways to save money on your total vacation when you factor in flights, hotels, and other travel logistics.

Buy a travel insurance plan to avoid costly medical bills

A cruise is a wonderful way to travel for older adults, but it's even more important to protect yourself because many health insurance plans offer limited or no coverage when outside the United States. 

Retirees who are on Medicare need to check whether their coverage extends to international travel, because standard Medicare plans typically do not.

If you would ever need medical care on your ship or in a foreign country, you'll have to pay cash for all services and then get reimbursement later. A travel insurance policy can save you thousands of dollars in these costs, should you encounter such a situation.

It's a really good idea to buy a travel insurance plan with a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver.

I think travel insurance is a good buy for almost anyone, but it's even more important for a Baby Boomer or Senior Citizen given the risk factors.

Speaking of medical costs, be sure to bring extra prescription medicine with you rather than buying them overseas.

Not only is it easier to buy it at home with you existing prescription, but I'd hate to waste time on my vacation going to a pharmacy to find the right medicine.

After taking my first cruise to Alaska, I realized there were a few things I wish I knew before I went. From packing proper footwear to picking the right dinner time, a few minor decisions could have made my Alaska cruise go more smoothly.

I’ve been on nearly 30 cruises, but my first cruise to Alaska remains one of my favorites. I was awestruck by the state’s majestic nature, whether marveling at an expansive glacier or picturesque fjord.

Despite the wonderful memories of my first trip to Alaska, the cruise was dotted with small mistakes that made a big difference in my overall cruise experience. I thought I researched everything there was to know about cruising Alaska, but I still found myself making mistakes along the way.

Since then, I’ve been on 4 more Alaska cruises. By now, I’m familiar with the ins and outs of visiting the state, but I always find myself learning additional ways to make the most of my Alaska cruise experiences.

These are the 7 things I wish I knew about cruising to Alaska before I went.

Don’t bring mesh tennis shoes—you’ll regret it

I traveled with my dad on my first cruise to Alaska, and he packed a trusty pair of soft mesh tennis shoes. Looking back, we didn’t know any better, but this was a huge mistake.

When packing for an Alaska cruise, it’s crucial to bring a comfortable pair of shoes. Many passengers spend their port days walking around historic towns and hiking near glaciers, so you’ll want to bring suitable footwear for the trip.

However, you want to ensure your footwear is water-resistant. Popular sneakers with a mesh exterior might be comfy, but they do not fare well with Alaska’s rainy weather.

As my dad and I explored port, his feet were cold and wet almost immediately after disembarking the ship. Rainwater quickly seeped through the mesh lining of his shoes, leaving his socks wet and frigid.

My water-resistant Adidas sneakers and pair of boots were far more adequate for visiting Alaska. Had I thought about this before my cruise, I would have told my dad to pack more appropriate footwear.

It might be surprisingly warm, so pack short-sleeved shirts

Before I cruised to Alaska, I assumed the weather would always be slightly cold. I packed nearly every sweatshirt and jacket I could find in my closet, but neglected to bring items like short-sleeved shirts and shorts.

My first Alaska cruise was in October, which is arguably the worst month to cruise to Alaska. It rained nearly every day, but I kept warm in my thermal layers and waterproof jacket.

Two years later, however, I cruised to Alaska in mid-June, often considered one of the best times to visit Alaska. The days were long, sunny, and much warmer than I expected.

Even though temperatures were hovering just over 70 degrees, it felt more like 90 degrees in my long-sleeved shirts and pants. While walking around Skagway, my sister and I couldn’t help but laugh at how unprepared we were for the sweltering heat.

Next time I cruise to Alaska, I’ll definitely pack a few short-sleeved shirts… and maybe even a pair of shorts!

Your much-anticipated glacier day might not happen

Most Alaska cruise itineraries include a glacier viewing day, during which your ship sails along one of the state’s scenic glaciers. This is a major highlight of visiting Alaska for many passengers, many of whom might be seeing a glacier for the very first time.

On my first Alaska cruise, I was looking forward to visiting Dawes Glacier, but rainy weather and patches of ice blocked our ship from a safe approach. Even though we still saw a faraway glimpse of the glacier, I was disappointed we couldn’t get closer.

Later, on my second cruise to Alaska, our visit to Hubbard Glacier was cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions. Hubbard Glacier was supposed to be a highlight of my one-way itinerary, so I was bummed I couldn’t visit.

Of course, the weather is something cruise lines cannot control. Even though I felt disappointed, I knew it was for the best to call off a glacier visit in order to keep guests (and the ship) safe.

Fortunately, on subsequent visits to Alaska, my ships completed their scheduled glacier visits without any issues. Nonetheless, I wish I knew how unpredictable these glacier visits could be before my first Alaska cruise.

Excursions are expensive. You can still have fun without them, but they could be worth the splurge

Shore excursions on any cruise can be expensive, but especially in Alaska. Booking a whale watching tour might cost around $200 per person. Bucket-list excursions, like helicopter tours to glaciers, are priced even higher—sometimes over $600 per person.

I’m a budget cruiser, so I usually skip booking shore excursions. By doing just a little research ahead of time, I can almost always plan a fun day in port on my own. When I cruised to Juneau, for example, I visited Mendenhall Glacier on my own instead of booking a tour through Royal Caribbean, saving me nearly $50 in the process.

Yet when I think back to my first Alaska cruise, I wish I could have told myself that it’s okay to splurge on that extraordinary excursion even if the price tag seems shocking.

My dad and I considered booking a whale watching tour, but we ultimately decided against it to save money. Looking back now, I wish my dad and I would have booked the excursion to make more memories together.

For most cruisers, visiting Alaska is something they’ll only do once in their lifetime. Some excursions are totally worth the splurge in order to dive deeper into Alaska’s nature, history, and culture.

Luggage Valet makes disembarkation day less stressful

I distinctly remember carrying my jam-packed, nearly-broken suitcase through Seattle’s cruise terminal on disembarkation day of my first Alaska cruise.

There was nothing glamorous about lugging the heavy suitcase out of the cruise terminal, through the rain to grab an Uber, and to the check-in desk at the airport. I’m sure I looked ridiculous carrying so much luggage!

I wish I knew about Royal Caribbean’s Luggage Valet service before cruising to Alaska, as it would have made my disembarkation day far more relaxing.

If your Alaska cruise returns to Seattle, you can take advantage of Royal Caribbean’s Luggage Valet service, which works in partnership with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Passengers who book this service receive their airline boarding passes and luggage tags in their stateroom the day before disembarkation. Later that evening, the luggage is taken from their cabin, where it is delivered to the airport and onto their flight the next day.

The convenience of Luggage Valet cannot be understated, and I wish I knew about this helpful service on my first cruise to Alaska.

The Gulf of Alaska can be rocky, so be prepared with seasickness remedies

For my second cruise to Alaska, I booked a port-intensive itinerary that started in Vancouver, Canada and ended in Seward, Alaska. These itineraries allow passengers to visit more ports in Alaska compared to a roundtrip sailing. Plus, many choose to extend their vacation in Alaska’s interior, visiting places like Denali National Park & Preserve and Anchorage.

To reach Seward from southeast Alaska, where the majority of the cruise takes place, ships must traverse the Gulf of Alaska. I wish I knew how rocky this body of water could be before I sailed.

As my ship crossed the gulf, I felt nauseous and miserable. The ship rocked substantially throughout the day—my cabinmate even fell ill! 

Luckily, a few motion-sickness pills in the day made me feel much better.

If I knew about this before, I would have taken the seasickness remedies in the morning to avoid wasting half my day onboard.

Book a later dinner time so you don’t miss sailaway

Eating dinner in the Main Dining Room is a staple of any Royal Caribbean cruise experience, but I wish I knew to pick a later dinner time for my Alaska cruise.

As your ship sails away from any of Alaska’s ports of call, you’ll be rewarded with unbeatable views. Sailing away from Skagway, for instance, involves a multi-hour passage through the Lynn Canal, where astonishing mountains surround both sides of the ship.

Most ships leave port sometime between 5 and 7PM, although some port days may differ. Regardless, if you book an early seating time in the Main Dining Room, sailaway could occur at the same time as your dinner reservation.

I booked the earliest dinner time on my first few Alaska cruises, but I later regretted the decision. I found myself skipping dinner in the dining room in favor of the buffet so that I didn’t miss out on breathtaking views.

Next time, I’ll select a later dining time so I can eat after my ship sails away from port.

Royal Caribbean Group's CEO recently offered three predictions for trends that he's seeing for cruising this year.

During his company's fourth quarter earnings call a few weeks ago, Mr. Liberty pointed to a few trends he expects Royal Caribbean to encounter, and each one is likely to help its bottom line.

Consumers should pay attention to these trends as an indicator of what we can expect from a pricing standpoint.  Key indicators such as demand, demographics, and booking volume all contribute to the prices we pay later.

As the cruise industry moves into 2025, there's a lot of momentum from last year, and with record demand, Royal Caribbean appears well-positioned to lead the market. 

With the cruise industry experiencing some of the highest demand ever, the price and destinations your next cruise take could be determined by these market shifts.

Travelers want to make memories through experiences

Right at the onset of the call with Wall Street analysts, Mr. Liberty talked about the importance consumers are placing on travel experiences over material goods.

Liberty noted that American households are wealthier than ever, with continued wage growth and low unemployment driving strong consumer spending. This economic strength is leading to a shift in how people allocate their discretionary income.

That wealth growth is fueling this desire among consumers to spend more on a vacation that will deliver wow moments and make memories they can look back on fondly.

He believes a cruise vacation is particularly well-positioned to benefit from this trend, as it offers a blend of adventure, luxury, and relaxation in one package.

Liberty emphasized that consumers are planning to take more trips and increase their vacation budgets, "Consumers plan to spend more on vacations and take more trips in the coming year and our guests over index in their intent to spend more on leisure travel."

"We continue to see very positive sentiment from our customers bolstered by strong labor markets, high wages, surplus savings, and elevated wealth levels, at the same time; they continue to prioritize travel experiences."

He believes the combination of cruise ship diversity and private destinations positions the company well to meet this demand.

Millennials and younger travelers are more interested in a cruise than ever before

A big trend that you may have already noticed is that cruises are no longer for the "newly wed and nearly dead".

Mr. Liberty sees growing interest in cruising among young people, particularly Millennials and Gen Z travelers.

Earlier in 2024, he talked about how impactful younger people have been on a shifting demographic, "Millennials and younger generations have gained 11 percentage points share compared to 2019." 

"And today, almost 1 in 2 guests are millennials or younger...it's a very powerful statement."

This shift is driven by several factors, including the affordability of cruises compared to traditional land vacations and the increasing desire for unique, shareable experiences.

Plus, Royal Caribbean has invested a lot of money in tailoring its experiences to younger passengers through technology, onboard activities, and entertainment.

They're using more AI in their business to make it easier to book restaurants, excursions and more, "We launched over 300 new digital capabilities across channels in 2024, improving the overall experience and reducing friction points while increasing spend."

Piggybacking on the first trend, younger travelers see a cruise ship as an easy way to explore different places in one trip, "Consumers place significant value on visiting multiple destinations and this is even more important to Millennial and Gen Z consumers; something that cruising is uniquely positioned to deliver on."

Strong demand is not slowing down

If 2024 was a record year in terms of demand for a cruise, the future looks bright heading into 2025.

Mr. Liberty mentioned at the beginning of the earnings call that Royal Caribbean experienced its best five booking weeks in company history at the start of the year, with bookings outpacing previous years across all key products.

This surge in demand is fueled by a combination of factors, including high guest satisfaction rates, the appeal of Royal Caribbean’s exclusive private destinations, and the growing appeal of short getaways. 

This strong demand is helping the company keep their ships sailing completely full and at higher prices.

Royal Caribbean charges for room service, except for one breakfast option that you can easily enjoy in your room for free.

I think a lot of people instinctively start their morning with a stop at the cruise buffet, but there's actually a free room service option at breakfast.

There's no shortage of included food on a Royal Caribbean cruise, from three-course meals in the Main Dining Room to an all-you-can-eat buffet and fast-casual joints like El Loco Fresh and the Boardwalk Dog House. Yet, many passengers overlook room service, especially for breakfast. 

Outside of breakfast, ordering room service incurs a $7.95 service charge. Still, continental breakfast items, such as pastries, fruit, coffee, and juice are complimentary and can be delivered to your stateroom free of charge. 

Ordering room service for breakfast is one of my favorite ways to kickstart my day on a cruise ship. While the options are more limited than the Windjammer, it's nice not to have to budget time for breakfast while avoiding the crowds. 

It's even better when you're staying in a balcony stateroom! There's nothing like sipping on a cup of coffee as your ship pulls into port. It's just as nice on a sea day, too. 

The convenience of room service breakfast can't be beat. It's a relaxing way to ease into the day before heading out to explore the ship or going ashore for an all-day excursion. 

Each cabin has room service menus that can be filled out and hung on the door handle the night before you want room service delivered for breakfast

On a recent cruise aboard Wonder of the Seas, my partner and I decided to order room service before our excursion in Roatán, Honduras. 

The night before, we filled out the room service menu, selecting which items we wanted delivered and at what time. Everything on the continental breakfast side is included. 

However, items listed under "American Breakfast," such as scrambled eggs, buttermilk pancakes, hash browns, and bacon, incur a $7.95 service charge. That said, Royal Caribbean doesn't charge $7.95 per item, so you can order as many hot dishes as you want for a single price. 

Alcoholic drinks, including Mimosas and the Ultimate Bloody Mary, can also be delivered to the room. Note, though, that they are not included in any drink package. Even if you have the Deluxe Beverage Package, you must pay the current bar pricing, plus an 18% gratuity. Daily diamond vouchers can't be used for room service drinks, either. 

Sticking with the included options, we ordered coffee with lactose-free milk, plain bagels with cream cheese, croissants, assorted pastries, and a fruit plate. Other options include yogurt, cereal, muffins, toast, grits, granola, oatmeal, and donuts. 

Because we had a third-party excursion booked, we wanted our room service to come early, so we could be one of the first passengers off the ship. We were to meet our driver at the port's exit an hour after Wonder's arrival. 

As such, we selected the 7:00am to 7:30am timeslot. However, we received a phone call at 6:48am saying our food was on the way! It was delivered and placed in our cabin before 7:00am. The earliest timeslot begins at 6:00am, while the latest delivery is from 10:30am to 11:00am. 

Since it arrived so early, we enjoyed breakfast in bed, watching a little television while munching on our food and drinking coffee. 

Read more: I ate brunch at 3 Royal Caribbean restaurants, and the one you've heard of the least was the best

The bagels were overtoasted, but the fruit plate was fresh

Breakfast is actually my least favorite meal of the day, so I try to keep it light and simple. Royal Caribbean's continental breakfast isn't anything fancy. However, there are enough options for a satisfying start to your day. 

The most disappointing part of our room service breakfast was the overtoasted bagels. Though they arrived warm, they were genuinely too burnt to eat. Instead, my partner lathered up one of the croissants with cream cheese. I was grateful we added them to our order the night before! 

I appreciated the assorted pastries, particularly the raspberry danishes and chocolate croissant. 

We agreed the fresh fruit plate was the most enjoyable dish. Everything from the juicy pineapple to the kiwi was ripe and refreshing. In fact, I wish we had ordered two! I would have been perfectly fine with fruit and coffee, rather than the extra pastries. 

Speaking of coffee, I'm not going anywhere, especially off the ship, without caffeine coursing through my veins. If you're someone who needs a hot cup of coffee to start your morning, I'd highly recommend ordering a pot via room service! 

Because we indicated that we were ordering for two people, our delivery included two coffee mugs. However, my partner prefers iced coffee, so she didn't drink any. This worked to my benefit since I had the entire pot to myself! 

However, if you and your travel companion are coffee fanatics, you can request an extra pot, rather than sharing one between two cruisers. 

Unfortunately, if you have a Royal Caribbean drink package and want to kickstart your day with a latte from Cafe Latte-Tudes, Cafe Promenade, or the Pearl Cafe, you will have to get it yourself. You cannot order iced beverages to your stateroom via Royal Caribbean's room service breakfast menu. 

I found the regular coffee to be perfectly fine, especially since I could enjoy it at my own pace without leaving the cabin. It was better than venturing to the Royal Promenade or Windjammer and carrying a full cup back to my stateroom. 

Coffee isn't the only beverage included with the continental breakfast. You may also order apple juice, orange juice, regular or chocolate milk, fat-free or lactose-free milk, half & half, green tea, black tea, and herbal tea. Decaffeinated coffee is an option, too. 

Should you order Royal Caribbean's free room service breakfast?

Instead of waking up earlier and getting ready before grabbing a bite to eat at the Windjammer or Main Dining Room,  we enjoyed having the extra time to rest in bed before heading off the ship in Honduras. 

Again, the continental breakfast isn't anything fancy or over-the-top, but who doesn't want to feel like royalty waking up to breakfast in bed? It's nice that Royal Caribbean includes such a convenient option in its cruise fare. It will remain a must-do for any cruise I'm on!  

Plus, there's no limit as to how many times you can order continental room service breakfast. In other words, if you're on a 7-night Caribbean cruise, you can be awoken each morning by a crew member telling you that your food is on the way, all for no extra charge! If you run out of menu cards, you can either ask your cabin steward or go to Guest Services. 

Royal Caribbean's move to deploy more of its ships to sail shorter 3- and 4-night itineraries has sparked heated debate among its loyal cruisers. 

Royal Caribbean released new short Caribbean cruises this week, but some cruise fans don't love a notable shift in the cruise line's strategy.

Utopia of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas will have already made this switch in 2025, but Oasis and Harmony of the Seas will join the trend when they start sailing short cruises in the fall of 2026.

"It's so sad that Royal Caribbean is ruining most of the Oasis class ships with the short cruises," said Søren Hemmingsen on Facebook, and it echoes what hundreds of other die hard Royal Caribbean fans expressed about the new releases.

The big change is in winter 2026-2027, Royal Caribbean will have all but one of its Oasis Class ships sailing short cruises in the Caribbean and they're all less than 7 nights.

The reason so many cruisers are upset is the lack of itinerary variety and high cost for a short trip.

Some long-time cruisers feel a week is necessary to be able to fully enjoy these mega ship’s amenities, entertainment, and dining experiences. With more ships being allocated to short sailings, seasoned cruisers are feeling left out. 

"I can’t seem to find it worth my time to drive 8+ hours or cost beneficial to fly for a 3 or 4 night cruise. This hurts those of us who are just far enough away that have to come in the day before," said Barry Akins.

The only Oasis Class ship that will remain offering week long cruises is Symphony of the Seas out of Galveston, Texas. It's not clear what Allure of the Seas will be doing yet.

A shift toward attracting new cruisers

Why is Royal Caribbean moving more of its ships to sail short cruises? The answer is at the heart of its business.

"Short cruises is really the onramp for new to cruise," Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service for Royal Caribbean, explained to travel agents during a webinar yesterday.

"It's kind of the test drive, people don't have to invest a lot of time, they don't have to invest a lot of money... to see if cruising is the right experience for them."

Traditionally, older cruise ships sailed these short cruises but Royal Caribbean wanted to flip the script and attract new cruisers with the best possible ships.

The idea is offer the very best new cruise ship in the short cruise market to give new cruisers an obvious choice of which ship is best for them to try. Shorter cruises allow passengers to get a taste of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer without committing to a weeklong cruise. 

From a business standpoint, Royal Caribbean is doubling down on what works.

The cruise line is targeting a younger demographic and those who want a quick escape without taking a full week off work. Shorter cruises often sell out faster and at higher per-night rates, making them a profitable option.

One comment on the new deployment recognized the business reality, "A very short lesson in Cruising 101—Short cruises you can turn that ship twice and flip it and make more money—that only makes sense for the cruise lines! Fresh passengers buying more drinks and gambling more. This is nothing new."

Frustration over lack of variety

The shift away from longer cruises on Oasis Class ships means there aren't many options for a traditional 7-night Caribbean cruise on an Oasis Class ship.   There are sailings on Icon Class vessels, but right now Icon Class ships command the highest average cruise fares in the fleet.

One workaround is to book a back to back sailing, where you sail the same ship twice in a row to get a week on the ship.  However, there isn't a lot difference in where your ship visits.

"I hate this!," wrote Susan Cliatt. "We have to fly and it is not worth the 3,4 or 5 days!

Royal Caribbean executives have repeatedly said the top two reasons people book a cruise ship vacation are for the destinations and the food.  

Short cruises, especially 3-night sailings, usually only go to The Bahamas.

Cruise fans complained, "This caters to those that live close to the ports."

"They are only worth it if you live near the port."

Another frustration is many travelers feel that large, feature-packed ships like those in the Oasis Class are wasted on short itineraries, where there simply isn’t enough time to experience everything onboard. 

Matt Anderson wrote, "Just don’t understand why all the Oasis Class ships are moving to short cruises. You have to take just as many days off work to go on the 4-day cruise since it’s Mon-Fri as a 7-day Sunday-Sunday cruise. Also, there is just way too much happening on these ships to only be on for 3 or 4 days."

Another person echoed this concern:

"Hmmmm can’t say I like this move. We don’t like Icon because it’s crawling with out-of-control kids and was perfectly happy going back to Oasis Class for our 7-night Eastern Caribbean."