Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship will have one of the most famous soccer players of all time to name the ship.

Royal Caribbean announced that Lionel Messi will be the "official icon of Icon of the Seas". This appears to be a role similar to a ship's Godmother.

As part of a longstanding maritime tradition, Messi will take part in the iconic naming celebration for Icon in January 2024 in Miami. The Icon of Icon will have the honor of bestowing safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew and the millions of families who will create memories of a lifetime on board in the years to come.

This means he will welcome the new ship at an exclusive naming celebration in Miami. The naming ceremony will take place on January 23, 2024.

"I’m thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas," said Lionel Messi, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of Icon. 

"Icon is beyond anything else that’s out there for family vacations, with incredible never-before-seen features, all designed for making memories together."

Royal Caribbean's choice seems to have been in the making for a few months.

In July 2023, the cruise line invited the soccer star onto the bridge of a cruise ship to meet cruise line President and CEO, Michael Bayley.

The next month, Royal Caribbean announced an advertising agreement with Inter Miami CF, which is the club Messi plays for. More details are forthcoming related to Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF celebration of the arrival of Icon with the next phase of the partnership.

Who is Lionel Messi?

Photo © Chbm89 | Dreamstime.com

In case you're not familiar with Lionel Messi, he's one of the most well-known soccer stars today and arguably one of the best of all time.

Born in Argentina, he spent most of his career playing for FC Barcelona, where he made a name for himself as one of the top goal scorers.

He rose to fame for his playmaking skills and has won numerous individual awards, including the FIFA Ballon d'Or, which he has won multiple times.

Changing the status quo

As part of the announcement, Mr. Bayley said the choice of Messi to be the ship's Icon was based on the fact that his career matches that of the new ship.

"It’s that ability to make such a widespread impact and change the status quo that the Icon of Icon must personify, and Lionel Messi has proven to be the perfect example of that for years in the world of sports and most recently in introducing a new era of excitement and passion for fútbol in Miami and the U.S."

Icon of the Seas is built with far more family-focused activities than other cruise ships, and it's a brand new type of cruise ship.

Scheduled to begin sailing in January 2024 and already available to book, will feature a water park, kids club, entire portion of the ship for young families, and more dining and entertainment than on any other ship since.

Icon of the Seas will have more cabins to cater to families with higher capacities, thanks in large part to new room designs.

Adults aren't being left out either.  While the kids are busy with all of their activities, there's a jazz club, elevated supper club, adults-only pool and bar, dueling piano bar, and lots more.

What is a cruise ship godmother?

Every cruise ship has a godmother, and it appears Messi will be serve that role.

It's a ceremonial position that is traditionally held by a woman, but in recent years that has changed.  Symphony of the Seas had a Godfamily, and Norwegian Cruise Line had a Godfather for one of its ships.

Other ships have had women hold the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The Icon's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

Royal Caribbean's partnership with Ben & Jerry's ice cream is coming to an end.

The cruise line informed travel agents that the line will remove Ben & Jerry's from its cruise ships before the end of the year.

Royal Caribbean has ice cream shops that stocked the Vermont brand ice cream on 13 of its cruise ships.

In an announcement to travel agents, the line said the final date will be December 15, 2023, "Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Shop onboard 13 of our ships will be moo-ving out and making way for something sweeter!"

Replacing Ben & Jerry's will be an in-house brand of ice cream.

"We're excited to announce that our own Ice Cream Parlor will be replacing Ben & Jerry's. We hope your clients saved room for dessert!"

The partnership brings to an end a multi-year deal that has had the ice cream on many of its ships for a long time. Ben & Jerry's cost extra, and was not included in the cruise fare.

Depending on the ship class, you could find Ben & Jerry ice cream as a stand-alone location on the Royal Promenade, or as a section of another venue.

The standalone locations had Ben & Jerry decor, seating, and of course the signature cows nearby.

A change to the sweet cabins

Did you know on Royal Caribbean's Freedom Class cruise ships there was one cabin that was themed to Ben & Jerry's signature cow mascot?

These special cabins had extra perks that came with the room, but they too are already on their way out.

These rooms (cabin 6305) included Suite Lounge access, as well as free ice cream every day.

The cow decor was dropped in 2022, but the benefits remained.  Then in 2023, we received reports that the benefits were also being removed.

What will replace it?

Royal Caribbean has not announced what ice cream will replace it exactly, but it's likely going to be the same sort of ice cream the line has planned for Icon of the Seas.

Sprinkles is the name of the complimentary soft serve ice cream available on the new cruise ship.  

It's not clear what the new venue name will be. Cups & Scoops was one brand available on the original Oasis Class ships, but Sugar Beach has been the name of the dessert shop

The rumor mill is swirling with the possibility of Royal Caribbean eyeing a new resort in Freeport, Bahamas as part of a bigger plan to revamp the harbor.

Prior to the cruise industry shutting down in 2020, Royal Caribbean announced plans for redeveloping Freeport's harbor and create a combination new port and resort.  Those plans fell through during the shutdown.

There's now word of a potential purchase of the Xanadu Beach Hotel in Freeport as part of plans to develop a resort and water park destination, according to The Tribune report.

According to "multiple well-placed sources", Royal Caribbean is in talks with the property owner to buy the line, and that negotiations towards an offer being made by the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean has made no announcement, nor have they confirmed or denied the original report. 

The deal could cover an area of 40-50 acres, which would be tied to redeveloping Freeport's harbor.

One source indicated that the project could be used by sister brand Celebrity Cruises as well.

The Xanadu Beach Hotel was built in 1968 and then purchased by Howard Hughes in 1972. Mr. Hughes lived at the hotel until just before his death in 1976.

It was an escape for Hollywood stars, and included 215 rooms and an 80 slip marina. Stars such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Lucille Ball visited there.

It closed in 2011.

The original Freeport plan

The original plan for the cruise giant was to purchase the Grand Lucayan resort in Freeport, and tie that to a harbor deal.

Royal Caribbean had about 20 projects on the drawing board prior to the global health crisis, including the Freeport project.

Under the deal announced in 2020, there were to be two locations that included a port terminal and the Grand Lucayan hotel.

The first phase of the Lucaya Property would have been a beachfront destination with a 526-room hotel, shopping village, spa and wellness center, water-based family entertainment including a massive water and adventure theme park, a 40,000-square-foot convention center, adventure activities such as zip lines and off-roading, restaurants and bars, entertainment and lively nightlife. 

The enhancement and expansion of the port terminal, to be called Harbour Village, would have been nine miles west of the Lucaya Property, at the cruise terminal in Freeport Harbor. Here, visitors would have been able to enjoy numerous spaces with multiple shopping and dining venues, beach areas, shore excursions and more. 

The plan was for it to be finished in winter 2022.

Freeport still an option

It remains to be seen if a deal to purchase the Xanadu property will happen, or if a Freeport project in general will continue, but it seemed like the cruise line is still eyeing the possibility.

In March 2023, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley told Bahamian media that he was "increasingly optimistic" that its Freeport port project will finally happen.

"I would say we are increasingly optimistic about the timing of that. In the coming months hopefully we will be in a position to make some positive announcement on Freeport."

"Our intent is to bring more capacity into Freeport. The first step, which will be in conjunction with others, is investing in improving the port."

Mr. Bayley said development of a water-based adventure theme park for passengers in close proximity to the port area was still the plan.

Selfies aren't just for influencers anymore. It's actually the important step to do pre-cruise to get on the ship faster.

When the day arrives to get on your cruise ship, the last thing you want to do is waste time in the cruise terminal instead of boarding the ship.  Yet, too many people skip a pivotal step that can move things along quicker.

Royal Caribbean has made its app easy the key to boarding your ship.  Similar to an airline boarding pass, you can do it all via the app. But unlike a flight, cruise ship passengers are asked to take a photo of themselves.

The purpose of taking a photo of your face is so that ship security has a record of it, and you have to do it before embarkation.

The photo is optional in the app, but if you wait to take the photo in the cruise terminal, you'll waste time there and more importantly, take longer to get onboard.

Read more: Royal Caribbean app walkthrough and tips

This might sound like it's not a big deal to take a photo before the cruise, but Royal Caribbean is about to make it far more important.

Why taking a selfie will become more important

It's easy to overlook taking a selfie during the check-in process, but soon you'll definitely want to do it ahead of time.

Royal Caribbean is getting close to introducing a new way to check-in for a cruise that rewards passengers who do everything they need to do before embarkation day.

A new Express Boarding option is being tested in PortMiami on at least one ship, and it's meant to speed up the process for people who do everything they are supposed to in the app ahead of time.

This means you scan your passport, take a selfie, and enter your credit card and emergency contact details.

It might not sound like a big deal to have the fastest way onboard, until you're waiting in a line that you didn't have to wait in.  No one likes waiting in line when others can breeze past them.  

Find the right spot for the photo

One word of advice to avoid having to re-do the photo later is ensure you pick a spot that has a neutral background.

Royal Caribbean doesn't want things in the background, so take the photo in front of that boring hallway in your home instead of in the car or at the office.

Speaking of things that don't belong in the photo, make sure you aren't wearing any hats or sunglasses in your selfie photo.

If you don't do this, you'll have to re-take the photo in the terminal.

How to take selfie

You can take a selfie photo and upload it two ways.

The easiest is through the Royal Caribbean app. You can start the check-in process 45 days prior to your cruise departure date. 

Once you have the option to check-in, you'll see "Check-in now" enabled.  From there, "Travel Info" is the first section to complete.

The selfie photo is available under "Snap a security photo".

Alternatively, you can do the check-in on the Royal Caribbean website.  The problem with the website is you need a way to take a photo and get it to your computer.  There's no doubt taking a photo from your phone while already in the Royal Caribbean app is easier.

Read more: Royal Caribbean check-in process guide

More tips to speed up embarkation

In addition to taking a selfie, you'll want to to do a few more things.

Be sure to enter all of the information in check-in process so that each section has a green check mark next to it. This means entering your personal information, travel documents, credit card, and emergency contact information.

A day before the cruise, the health questionnaire will become available in the app, and that's the final step in checking in for the cruise.

On boarding day, there are also a few good tips to assist in getting from curb to ship as quick as possible:

• Have your travel documents (passport) in hand
• Take a screenshot of your SetSail pass, just in case the app doesn't work
• Have luggage tags printed and attached to your luggage

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

A suite on a cruise is expensive, but it's also one of the most sought-after types of cruise cabins because of how enjoyable the experience is.

The price of a suite will vary considerably, with the Ultimate Family Suite on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas costing $80,000 per week. That's at least ten times what a balcony cabin would likely cost, but it's also a microcosm of the demand suites get by cruise ship passengers.

The attraction to a book a suite is all about the service and benefits you get by staying in one.  There many types of cruise ship suites, but you can expect a bigger room than standard cabins on cruise vessels, better location onboard, and plenty of extra perks included for the price.

Free wifi, extra restaurants, added service, and less waiting in lines are just a few of the perks available with some suites.

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

While a suite is likely not a dollar-for-dollar value, it is compelling enough a proposition that some cruisers jump at the chance to move up to a suite.

If you're debating if a suite is worth it, here are the best reasons to book one instead of a standard cabin.

Less waiting

My favorite benefit to staying in a suite is less lines to deal with during the cruise.

Staying in a suite is the closest thing cruise lines offer to an express line to bypass lines, or at least reduce them. By paying extra, you get added service and shortcuts along the way.

On embarkation day, there will be a special line in almost every port for those staying in a suite. This provides a shorter line to wait in to check-in, and when it's time to board the ship, suite guests get to go first.

Onboard the ship, there can be opportunities for suite guests to bypass lines.  There can be reserved seating in shows, and if you have a Royal Genie, you can forget about waiting in just about any line on the ship.

The saying, "time is money" applies to suite guests, and it's nice to have bypasses along the way.

Exclusive areas on the ship

If you're in a suite, there will be special areas of the ship reserved just for you.

Royal Caribbean does not have a "ship within a ship" concept that other lines have, but there's still a few spots reserved just for suite guests and these alone can be worth the price of a suite.

Every ship has a suite lounge, where you can go anytime to socialize and enjoy complimentary drinks and light snacks at certain times.

You'll also find reserved seating on the pool deck for suite guests, which is immensely beneficial on sea days when the pool is the busiest.

On Royal Caribbean's newest ships, there are entire neighborhoods for suite guests.  Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas both have a section of the ship for the exclusive use of suite passengers.

Bigger cabin

If you think having more space in your room doesn't matter, wait until you see how much more space there is in a suite.

Cruise ship cabins are typically smaller than hotel rooms, but suites will make you feel like you're back at home with the square footage found in them.

Some suites have extra bedrooms, bathrooms, or even a dining room.  The really large suites are incredible to see, because it's hard to fathom just how large these cabins are compared to other rooms.

The Ultimate Family Townhouse measures 1,772 square feet and is three decks high.  Compare that to a balcony cabin on Icon of the Seas that comes in at 204 square feet.

More conventional suites are still quite large. A Grand Suite on Icon measures 431 square feet, which is more than double that of a balcony.

Read more: Icon of the Seas cabins and suites guide

Having that extra space is a major reason why a lot of people book a suite. They want to feel like they can spread out, and if they're sharing the room with others, every extra foot makes a difference.

Concierge services

It's amazing how much better your cruise can be with the help of the suite concierge.

The concierge is there to be a dedicated resource for suite guests. Think of them like Guest Service just for suite guests, but with less lines and more service.

They can assist in making reservations, including pre-cruise.  They can escort you off the ship, get you a tender ride without a wait, and be your aid should a problem arise.

Their job is to make your experience on the ship better, and it's a really nice way to solve problems or simply enhance it all.

Freebies

Depending on the ship you pick, staying in a suite can get you a lot of extras included in your cruise fare that you would otherwise have to pay extra for.

All suites across all ships include free alcoholic beverages in the Suite Lounge each evening, which means there's less of a need to purchase an unlimited drink package.

If you cruise on a Quantum, Oasis, or Icon Class cruise ship, the included perks drastically increase. For Sky Class passengers, you'll get complimentary Wi-Fi access, access to a special restaurant, and room service too.

Star Class guests get pretty much everything included, including any specialty restaurant, extra-cost beverage, and gratuities.

Read more: What is Star Class?

Twice a day cabin service

Royal Caribbean cut back housekeeping to once a day on its cruise ships, but suites still get service twice per day.

Having your cabin attendant service your cabin in the morning and evening is a pleasant benefit, and it means towels get replaced quicker, beds are made if you took a nap, and your room just feels tidier. 

I've grown accustomed to this change in standard cabins by now, but having that twice-a-day service is a really nice benefit.

More loyalty points

If you're looking to move up the ladder of Royal Caribbean's customer loyalty program faster, staying in a suite is the best strategy.

Royal Caribbean will give you an extra point per night for staying in a suite, so that means two points instead of one (or three, if you're staying solo in a suite).

This is important because the sooner you reach the higher tiers of Crown and Anchor Society, the sooner you'll get to enjoy the best benefits, such as free drinks every day.

Getting to Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Club really adds significant value to how you cruise, so booking a suite to get there faster might be a really good idea.

Read more: My top 5 favorite Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club perks

Better cabin location

Want to reduce your walking distance when getting around the ship? Stay somewhere with less movement? A suite is the easy button for that.

You'll typically find suites in the most desirable places on the ship so that you can have the best views, stability, and convenience.

To avoid getting seasick on a cruise, you'll want a cabin mid-ship (definitely not at the front), and it's no coincidence that you'll find suites in these areas.

Read more: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Is a suite on a cruise worth it?

It won't be cheap, but a suite has a lot of nice perks that come with it, and it might make sense for you to spend extra to stay in one.

When you consider what you get for booking a suite instead of a regular cabin, the higher price might make sense if you can take advantage of the added value.

Experts will tell you the best time to book a cruise is as soon as you pick out the right ship and itinerary, but some people still wonder if they're better off waiting to book a cruise later to try to get a better deal.

It's understandable why you might think there's a special or better time to book a cruise, because in other forms of travel there are inside scoops on when is the best time to book. 

The reality is a cruise ship is priced differently, and waiting to book is usually a mistake because of how the industry works.

While there are exceptions and times when a promotion seems lucrative, the best time to book a cruise is when you see a price that fits in your budget and and seems like a good price. If you think it's a good deal, go ahead and pull the trigger on booking it. There's no telling if or when the price may go down.

What is the best day to book a cruise?

There are definitely better days of the week to book a flight, but that's not the case with cruises.

Royal Caribbean does offer "Going, Going, Gone" rates on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, they tend to be very limited offers on close-in sailings. If you're planning your family vacation, waiting for one of these to roll around isn't a great strategy.

Prices of a cruise can change by the minute, and there isn't any kind of pattern that favors one day over another. While the cruise line's internal pricing logic isn't publicly known, anecdotally, there isn't any reason a price would be less on a certain day.  When it's time to raise or lower the price, it happens in real-time.

Just to confirm this theory, I reached out to a travel agent to get a sense of their experience.  Considering how many cruises they book every day, I wanted to know if there was a better day of the week to book a cruise.

"There isn't a best day of the week to book a cruise, as prices change often," said Sharla Manglass, Travel Planner with MEI & Mouse Fan Travel.

"Some people seem to believe that waiting for Black Friday, WOW, or Kids Sail Free sales will be the best option for them."

What is the best month to book a cruise?

There isn't necessarily one month that's better than another, but cruise lines love to tie sales to major holidays.

The month of November stands out because it has two of the most well-known shopping holidays: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While these sales tend to favor retail sales more, the truth is cruise lines trot out special bonus incentives for those that book a cruise during these days.

In fact, cruise lines get into the "spirit" of Black Friday by starting sales a week or more in advance, so you'll have time in the second half of November to take advantage of the sales.

However, it's a mistake to wait to book a cruise until Black Friday. Instead, book the cruise now.

Royal Caribbean allows price adjustments with no penalty until final payment date, so if you do notice a price drop when Black Friday rolls around, call Royal Caribbean or your travel agent to get the cruise fare adjustment.

Plus, you might find that Black Friday cruise deals are not very different from promotions you’ll see throughout the rest of the year. Unlike retail and technology stores, for example, cruise pricing does not drastically change on Black Friday. You might find that the Black Friday promotion is nearly the same as other promotions during the year.

What is the best time of year to book a cruise?

If you had the inspiration to book a cruise, ideally it would be in the beginning of the year during Wave Season.

“Wave Season” is a cruise industry term for the time of year in which cruise lines tend to offer their best promotions. Wave season traditionally occurs between January and March. The name comes from the fact bookings in this period are what carry the cruise industry for the rest of the year.

Wave season promotions vary based on year, but you might see savings like 60% off a second guest and up to $150 onboard credit to use onboard. If you’re browsing Royal Caribbean’s website during wave season, you should take advantage of the offer to hopefully save some money and get onboard perks.

The other really good time of year to book a cruise is when Royal Caribbean releases new itineraries.

Generally speaking, the best prices for a cruise are when a new sailing is put on sale and all the cabins are open to book. Inventory is at its highest, and prices only go up as rooms get booked.

Cruise itineraries are usually released around two years in advance. The first batch of new cruises go on sale around November and December, and the rest come out in February, March or April.

One way to stay informed about new cruise itineraries is by subscribing to Royal Caribbean’s marketing emails or following Royal Caribbean Blog.

Can I book a cruise at the last minute?

Your best bet is to always book as far in advance as possible, you could try for a last-minute booking instead.

Truthfully, booking a cruise at the last minute is a crapshoot.  If there are any good deals, the choices are going to be limited in terms of dates, ships, and cabin choice.

Equally importantly, you'll have to pay the entire fare at once, because cruises booked less than 90 days before sailing require deposit and the full fare to be paid at the same time.

The bigger issue is there may simply not be a last-minute cruise deal to be had.  Cruise ships are sailing full, and people are booking cruises earlier and in more numbers than ever before. 

However, if you're very flexible with when and where you sail, there could be something out there if you keep your eyes out for price drops. If a cruise is past final payment date and not all rooms have been booked, Royal Caribbean may drop prices in order to encourage more passengers to book the cruise.

It helps a lot if you can drive to your cruise so that you don't have to then figure out last-minute airfare or hotels.

Should you book your next cruise on the ship?

Cruise lines offer additional incentives if you book another cruise once on their ship, but it's not always the best strategy.

If you're on a ship and are suddenly struck with the inspiration to book another cruise, yes, booking onboard is a good idea. You will receive up to $600 in onboard credit  and a lower deposit amount simply for booking a cruise on the ship.

That may sound like a great reason to wait to book onboard, but waiting to book a cruise until you get on a ship is a mistake. Even if you have a cruise coming up in a few weeks or months, it’s almost always better to book a future cruise you are interested in while at home now because the price could go up between now and your sailing, negating the advantage of booking on the ship.

How do I know if I'm getting a good deal when I book?

Good news, we are all one week closer to our next Royal Caribbean cruise!  In case you missed any of the Royal Caribbean fun from this week, here is our weekly round up!

Royal Caribbean’s second Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas, is now available for booking.

Star will operate out of Port Canaveral, Florida and cruisers can now book 7-night Caribbean sailings beginning on August 17, 2025. 

Prices start at $​​2398 per person for an interior guarantee cabin.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean opens new slide at Perfect Day at CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark
• Royal Caribbean announces new photo perk for its loyalty program members
• Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship prices are more expensive than Celebrity's new premium ship
• Video shows Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship barely passed under a bridge
• 7 Best cruise ports in the Caribbean
• Is January a good time for a cruise?
• Vintage photos show how drastically cruise ships have changed during the last century
• I tried the new cocktails coming to Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 519th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, which has a review of Celebrity's newest ship.

Matt and Don sailed on Celebrity Cruise’s brand-new Celebrity Ascent. In this episode, they discuss what makes the Edge Class ship unique. 

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

Video: Why I Chose a Smaller Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship

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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 — Why I Chose a Smaller Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Video shows look around Royal Caribbean's new adults-only beach

Royal Caribbean has made progress on the adults-only beach expansion located on Perfect Day at CocoCay. Called Hideaway Beach, the location will cater to guests 18 and older.

A new video from inside the park, posted by Marissa Abreu, Royal Caribbean’s Director of Design, shows a first look at the progress made.

Hideaway Beach will be a paid add-on for adults seeking a child-free experience, spanning over 8 acres.

6 things I loved and 3 things I hated about my Brilliance of the Seas cruise

Every cruise ship has pros and cons, including Royal Caribbean’s older ships.

Jenna recently sailed on Brilliance of the Seas, a Radiance Class ship built in 2002. She provides a balanced perspective on both the positive and the negative aspects of a cruise experience on Brilliance of the Seas.

She loved the ship’s entertainment options, dining experiences, friendly crew, enjoyable excursions, spacious staterooms, and the overall cruise atmosphere.

On the negative side, Jenna experienced issues with the embarkation and disembarkation processes, crowded spaces at certain times, and limited specialty dining options. 

How long does it take to build a cruise ship

The process of building a cruise ship is no overnight feat, so how long does it take exactly?

With Icon of the Seas almost ready for her first sailing, we have a good example of the process and what goes into making an idea into a ship.

From concept, to steel cutting, to float out, and then launch, it's a multi-year process involving tens of thousands of people.

I went on four cruises and found the best way to protect Black hair on vacation

After four cruises, Calista has developed the best method to protect Afro-textured hair while on vacation.

Challenges such as weather, the elements, time limitations, and packing space can make it difficult to care for Black hair while on a cruise.

However, with the help of protective hairstyles, moisturization, and essential haircare products, you can prevent damage and maintain healthy hair during a cruise vacation.

Cruise ship travel has changed significantly over the last century. 

Main Dining Room. Royal Caribbean

From the ocean liners that preceded it, to the dawn of the cruise ship, and then onto the mega ship, leisure travel by sea has come a long way.

The cruise industry has made rapid improvements and innovated through each era, with a boom of activity beginning in the 1990s as ships transformed into floating cities.

Here's a look at what cruise ship travel looked like over the decades.

Pre-1914 B&N steamers. Norwegian Maritime Museum

By the end of the 19th century, Norway's scenic wonders attracted hundreds of tourists. British and German vessels began calling on the Norwegian coast during the summer.

B&N Line (Bergen Line and Nordenfjeldski Steamship Company) welcomed tourists to Norway and the Mediterranean. They called their vessels, "tourist yachts".

Oslofjord, Norwegian America Line's short-lived flagship in 1939 in Havana. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

Ocean liners were the precursor to modern day cruise ships, but they were quite different in their design and approach to sailing.

Ocean liners were built to offer comfortable accommodations across oceans at the highest speed possible. They weren't leisure craft, as they were more suited for getting their passengers across vast distances as fast as possible.

Commodore Cruise Line Boheme ship in Miami in 1982. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

The first cruise lines emerged in the 1960s, with Commodore Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line founded in 1966.

Cruise lines in these days primarily relied on ferries or old ocean liners. Commodore took over building a half-complete ferry under construction that had been cancelled.

Commodore Cruise Line became the first company to operate week-long cruises out of Florida year-round.

Arne Wilhelmsen and family. Arne Wilhelmsen

Royal Caribbean was founded in 1968, with Song of Norway as her first ship. She was one of the first large ships to be built specifically for Caribbean cruising instead of a converted ferry or ocean liner.

The Song of Norway originally weighed 18,000 gross tons and had a capacity for only 724 passengers. 

Song of Norway's embarkation lobby in 1970. Bard Kolltveit & John Maxtone-Graham

Cruising in the 1970s was quite different from cruising today. Song of Norway had its own radio station, guests received a passenger list of everyone onboard, there was a midnight buffet, and skeet shooting was available on sea days.

Main Dining Room. Royal Caribbean

Cruise ships had evolved to offer more creature comforts than ocean liners ever did. Ships in the '70s were small, and the industry was starting to grow.

Meeting the Captain. Royal Caribbean

On a cruise ship in the 1970s, you could dance..

Man shooting skeet. Royal Caribbean

... shoot skeet off the back of the ship...

Marketing photos in brochure. Royal Caribbean

... and  many other activities.

Viking Crown Lounge. Royal Caribbean

In the 1980s, the cruise industry had to deal with the growing pains of a recession and strong competition from many lines.

Nordic Prince. Royal Caribbean

Cuise ships in the 1980s were smaller than today. As an example, Nordic Prince was 18,346 GT and 552 feet long, whereas Icon of the Seas is 250,800 GT and 1,198 feet long.

Party crowd. Royal Caribbean

Just like the decade was known for, a cruise in the 1980s was about a way to celebrate and relax.

Once your ship made it to port, it was time for a shore excursion. There were 7-night cruises from Miami that went to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and Cozumel, Mexico.

Workout class. Royal Caribbean

The core cruise experience is largely the same then as it is today. The primary difference is what's offered onboard ships now, as well as the immense size difference.

The mandatory boat drill is completed. Royal Caribbean

Sovereign of the Seas in Miami passing Song of America. Royal Caribbean

The cruise industry evolved once again in the late 1980s into the 1990s with the introduction of the mega ship.

Windjammer on Sovereign of the Seas. Royal Caribbean

Sovereign of the Seas, the world's largest purpose-built cruise ship at the time, was designed as a way to offer certain onboard amenities that Royal Caribbean executives dreamed up.

The launch of Sovereign of the Seas in 1988 introduced the era of the mega ship, and vessels became larger and larger. 

Royal Caribbean promotional video

While the ships got bigger, the core experience remained the same, as guests were told they would be "wined and dined virtually around the clock," with the Main Dining Room featuring a different international flavor each night. 

Centrum on Legend of the Seas. Royal Caribbean

In the 1990s, ships got bigger and they could experience more than ever thought possible on cruise ships. Rock climbing walls, mini-golf courses, and the first specialty restaurants were added.

Pool on ship top deck. m. van hintum

Voyager of the Seas ushered in a new era of cruising with another leap in ship size.

The addition of an indoor promenade was revolutionary with the Voyager Class. There were onboard activities that was previously not available on a cruise ship.  

More importantly, it introduced the concept of guests being able to do physically activities onboard that were never considered previously.

Oasis of the Seas Youth Zone. Royal Caribbean

In the 2000s, cruising had reached new heights of popularity and Royal Caribbean capitalized on that with the biggest ships yet.

Oasis of the Seas became the world's largest cruise ship by a factor previously unseen.

Oasis was more than 40 percent larger than the previous largest ships in the world (Freedom Class), coming in at 225,282-tons and accommodating 5,400 passengers.

Icon of the Seas leaving shipyard in Turku. Royal Caribbean

Cruise ships have continued their trend to grow and add more for passengers to do.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will set the new bar for biggest cruise ship in the world with 20 decks and a length of 1,198 feet.

Royal Caribbean opened their brand-new water slide at Perfect Day at CocoCay's Thrill Waterpark ahead of schedule. 

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley turned to Facebook to announce its opening: "We opened a new slide at Perfect Day Coco Cay today to enhance the Thrill and keep the kids busy and happy while the Moms and Dads Chill with a Pina Colada."

Read more: 41 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips & tricks

In late October, Neva Heaston, Director of Private Destinations for Royal Caribbean International, said, "Look out for announcements from marketing, we are set to announce the name and open the ride in Q1 2024."

Located at the Splash Summit Tower, which is where you can also find the Sling Shot family raft slide, Splash Speedway mat slide, and Twister tube ride, the Tailspin is a family flume-style ride that uses the exact same rafts as the Sling Shot. 

Parties of 2-4 guests are sent into the bright green slide before shortly entering a dark tube that's illuminated with colorful lights. 

The entirety of the slide isn't enclosed, though. And as the name suggests, there are sharp turns that are sure to get everyone a little wet! 

Related: 41 Perfect Day at CocoCay tips, tricks and secrets

What is Thrill Waterpark?

Located on Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, Thrill Waterpark opened in 2019 as part of the cruise line's $250 million renovation. 

Admission usually ranges from $89 to $169 per person, depending on what ship you're sailing on and when your cruise is set to take place. There are even cabanas located within the waterpark that include the cost of admission for up to six guests. 

You can also expect a cabana attendant, sectional sofa, two resort-style chairs, power outlets, towels, and complimentary water bottles.

Note that children under the age of 14 are required to be accompanied by a ticketed guest who is 14 years old or older. Otherwise, they will be denied admission. 

With the opening of Tailspin, there are now nine slides for guests to enjoy. Additionally, there's a wave pool and obstacle course named "Adventure Pool," where you'll find a rope swing, rock wall, lily pads, and more. 

Five slides are located within Daredevil's Tower, including the tallest waterslide in North America: Daredevil's Peak. The remaining four slides can be found at Splash Summit. 

15+ ways to slide

If you're cruising on Icon of the Seas, with the addition of the brand-new slide at Thrill Waterpark, you're able to try out over fifteen different water slides, both at sea and on land. 

Simiarily, Utopia of the Seas will have the longest dry slide at sea, so whether you're a fan of water slides or not, you have yet another way to get your adrenaline pumping. 

"We are very excited to add another amazing addition to Thrill Waterpark for families and friends to enjoy together," said Heaston. 

Are annual passes to Thrill Waterpark on the horizon?

While nothing's been confirmed, Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley responded to a comment written by Christopher Birdsong on his Facebook account asking if they've ever thought about selling annual passes to Thrill Waterpark for those who frequently visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Bayley said, "Great idea. We will look into this." 

If annual passes were offered, how much would you be willing to pay? And, if offered, would they entice you to visit CocoCay even more, since you would be guaranteed to always have an extra-cost activity reserved? 

Jenn Greene is a Travel Planner affiliated with MEI Travel and recently attended an event in Las Vegas with Royal Caribbean to sample new drinks coming to Icon of the Seas.

As we eagerly await the debut of Icon of the Seas debut from Miami in January 2024, we have been watching for all the details about this new ship. Not only is Icon of the Seas a brand new ship, but it’s a brand new ship class, which means new concepts.

I had the pleasure of attending a very exclusive Royal Caribbean event that included a preview of the cocktails coming to Icon of the Seas when she sets sail.

Our group was escorted to Libertine Social in Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. Once we arrived, it made sense why we were there for this preview; Royal Caribbean, Sr. Director of Beverage Operations Ed Eiswirth, tasked his mentor, Tony Abou-Ganim, to help with some of the Icon of the Seas cocktail menus.

Tony is a worldwide name in the beverage industry and a managing partner of Libertine Social. He welcomed us to his establishment with open arms to proudly show off the cocktails he has created. 

Mr. Eiswirth shared that his team embarked on a journey of experimentation, testing 150 drinks to curate a selection that would elevate the onboard experience.

Out of this rigorous testing process emerged a collection of 60 brand-new cocktails, each designed to tantalize the taste buds and reflect the diversity of the passengers. From classic concoctions with modern twists to innovative creations that push the boundaries of mixology, these cocktails are like nothing at sea. 

The Iconic G&T

We were greeted with this not-so-standard gin & tonic as we arrived. Made with Bombay Sapphire Gin, Iconic tonic syrup, and soda water, this cocktail made my tastebuds question what I was drinking.

It's different from your standard gin & tonic, as the Iconic tonic syrup is made specifically for the Icon of the Seas and cannot be found anywhere else. 

The Big Bobbo

I wasn’t sure about this, as I am not usually a bubble tea drinker - but it is the perfect flavor combination. This eclectic cocktail is made with Mount Gay rum, Hard Truth Toasted CoConut Rum, cold brewed Earl Grey tea, simple syrup, and boba pearls. 

New York Sour

Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim crafted a signature drink and used out-of-the-box flavors to bring it to life.

Featuring Bulleit Bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg whites, and Claret wine, it will surely elevate your experience. 

Sunsplash

The Sunsplash is a classic cruise cocktail but without the rum.

Made with Grapefruit vodka, Aperol, honey syrup, lemon juice, orange juice, and sour mix- this is hands down my new favorite Royal Caribbean cocktail. 

The Pearl 

While we haven’t heard much about The Pearl, we know it will be a focal point on the Icon of the Seas. Therefore, a cocktail must be named after it. It’s a fancy margarita; at least, I felt it was. But this isn’t about the flavors- maybe a little- but it’s the presentation.

Shaken with Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Italicus liquor, lemon juice, sour mix, pearl shimmer syrup, and a Flavour Blaster citrus pearl, this is an insta-worthy cocktail! 

Royal Caribbeans beverage team looked at cocktail trends to develop unique and exciting offerings for their newest ship in the fleet. They said they wanted a combination of evolutionary and revolutionary to cater to everyone aboard the “ultimate family vacation.”

With only 75 days until Icon of the Seas sets sail on her Inaugural Voyage from Miami, we are all eager for more details. If this indicates what is coming, we are all in for an iconic vacation! 

15 Bars & 60 new cocktails

When Icon of the Seas launches, Royal Caribbean has plenty of new choices beyond even what was featured at the tasting event.

Icon of the Seas will have more than 15 bars and lounges, and there will be 60 new cocktail choices for the cruise line that will be exclusive to Icon.

There will be a blend of well-known fan favorite bars, such as the Schooner Bar, Trellis Bar, and Boleros.  And there will be new choices, such as Lou’s Jazz’n Blues, and Bubbles – a Champagne window in Central Park.

Royal Caribbean is also experimenting with a new family centric bar, where parents and their kids can enjoy a drink together.  The Lemon Post will have a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

In the AquaDome neighborhood, you'll find The Overlook.  This is a hip bar that has pods you can sit in to enjoy a drink with a view through the AquaDome.

If you prefer to drink your dessert, Desserted is what you'll want. It's a milkshake bar with over-the-top toppings.

Read more: Royal Caribbean reveals new restaurants, bars, and activities on Icon of the Seas