Royal Caribbean Blog

Food is an important part of any Royal Caribbean cruise, and most passengers enjoy meals in both the buffet and dining room during their sailing.

Royal Caribbean's Windjammer buffet and Main Dining Room are extremely popular places to grab a bite to eat on a cruise, but like other dining venues onboard, each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. The buffet is casual and hosts a wide range of food options, whereas the Main Dining Room offers a more traditional sit-down restaurant experience.

While onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s likely you’ll find yourself deciding between the buffet and dining room for most meals. To help make this decision easier, here are 12 reasons to eat at the buffet instead of the dining room on your cruise.

Quicker service

One of the complaints most frequently heard about the Main Dining Room is that the service is too slow, leading to a longer meal than anticipated. Although a “long” meal can vary greatly from person to person, you can expect dinner in the Main Dining Room to last around 75-90 minutes.

You can have dinner in the buffet, on the contrary, in under fifteen minutes. If you aren’t in the mood for a long meal and would rather get in and out as quickly as possible, the buffet is, undoubtedly, the better option.

Related: Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer Cafe buffet

Even breakfast and lunch in the Main Dining Room will last longer than eating those meals in the Windjammer. Generally speaking, if you’re impatient or in a rush, avoid the dining room and opt for a quick-service meal option.

More options

The most variety of food on a Royal Caribbean cruise can be found at the buffet. One of the biggest surprises for first time cruisers is the amount of variety available at any given meal. 

From pasta to burgers, tacos, and curries, there’s always something for everyone to enjoy at the Windjammer. While breakfast usually offers the same type of food each day, you will always find something new to enjoy for lunch and dinner.

The Main Dining Room menu changes each day for lunch and dinner as well, but the options are still much more limited compared to the buffet. For dinner, you can expect to see six appetizers, seven main courses, and six desserts on the dining room menu.

Related: Take a look at the new Main Dining Room menus

The Windjammer, on the other hand, allows you to mix and match from dozens of options, creating limitless meal possibilities.

Same food as the Main Dining Room

Oftentimes, the Windjammer buffet has many of the same food offerings as the Main Dining Room.

In fact, this has become more and more common ever since the new Main Dining Room menus launched, each having a nightly theme. Several of the courses offered during Mexican night in the dining room, for example, may also be found at the Windjammer.

Therefore, you’re not entirely missing out on the food in the Main Dining Room by eating in the buffet. Plus, on top of the overlap with dining room courses, you’ll have a vast selection of other dishes available.

No dress code

One of the main reasons cruisers dine in the buffet instead of the dining room, especially on formal nights, is the lack of a dress code.

Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room dress code is relatively lax, but you shouldn’t show up to dinner in the same outfit you’d wear to the gym. Most passengers choose to dress semi-nicely for dinner in the dining room, wearing collared shirts, slacks, and sundresses.

On formal night, it’s common to see guests wearing suits, gowns, and high heels, although dressing so elegantly is not entirely necessary. In fact, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be turned away from the dining room for wearing jeans and a t-shirt on formal night.

Related: What to wear on a cruise formal night

Nonetheless, many passengers choose to dine at the Windjammer instead of the Main Dining Room for the more relaxed dress code. It’s perfectly acceptable to dine at the Windjammer in a swimsuit cover-up, athletic shorts, and ripped tank top.

For many guests, dealing with the hassle of getting ready for a sit-down dinner feels like a chore on vacation.

Eat as much as you want

When it comes to dining on a Royal Caribbean cruise, passengers indulge in more food than they would at home. Whether three desserts at dinner or a second plate of cinnamon rolls at breakfast, there’s nothing wrong with eating more on a cruise compared to your normal diet.

No matter which venue you dine at for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can eat as much (or as little) as you want. Dining in the buffet, however, makes eating as much as you want easier than in the Main Dining Room.

When ordering at a sit-down restaurant, it’s hard to know the portion size for each dish. As a result, you may end up with too little or too much food than you’d like. This results in you either wasting food or wanting to order another dish, but not wanting to wait for another plate to arrive at your table.

Related: Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise

When eating in the buffet, you know exactly how much you’re putting on your plate at one time. If you’re not feeling hungry, hit up the salad station for a lighter meal. Or, if you’re still hungry after your first plate, head back to the buffet station for a second helping.

There’s more control over how much you eat in the buffet compared to the Main Dining Room on a cruise.

There’s still a bar

Planning to enjoy wine, cocktails, or beer with dinner? The Windjammer, like the Main Dining Room, serves alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks.

Royal Caribbean’s buffet has a standalone bar where you can order drinks, and if you have a drink package, your package will work here as well. There’s no need to sit down for a lengthy meal in order to enjoy a drink with dinner.

Put in your drink order, grab your food at the buffet, and sit down with your drink and meal within just a few minutes.

Amazing views

The buffets on Royal Caribbean cruise ships are located on the upper decks and have floor-to-ceiling windows looking out towards the ocean. Grabbing a table by the windows and dining with beautiful views of the ocean or cruise port is a wonderful way to enjoy a meal.

Some ships even have an outdoor seating area of the Windjammer, where you can enjoy your meal as you watch your ship sail from port to port. When traveling through scenic areas, this alone is enough of a reason to skip the Main Dining Room and head to the buffet instead!

While some tables in the dining room have outdoor views by a window, the vast majority of tables are located further inside the room. Therefore, most passengers in the dining room have no way to enjoy an ocean view during their meal.

Too tired from port

Despite the fact that cruises should be relaxing, some port days can be exhausting! Whether you spent the day lounging under the warm Caribbean sun or riding an ATV through the jungle, you can easily feel tired after a day in port.

And when you feel tired, the idea of getting showered, dressed, and ready for dinner seems unappealing. The good news, of course, is that you’re under no obligation to eat in the Main Dining Room!

After a busy port day, dine at the buffet instead for a quick, casual meal. There’s no need to further exhaust yourself by getting ready for a formal sit-down dinner.

Great for picky eaters

Royal Caribbean’s Main Dining Room offers several options for picky eaters, especially if you look at the Kids Menu, which serves items like spaghetti and chicken fingers.

Beyond the Kids Menu, many appetizers and main courses may not appeal to the pickiest of eaters. Escargot, lamb curry, and chicken marsala are certainly excellent dishes, but they could be a nightmare for those in search of more basic options.

Fortunately, the Windjammer is a haven for picky eaters. No matter the meal, you’re sure to find dishes perfect for picky eaters, such as pizza, hamburgers, and mac and cheese. Passengers won’t have to worry about leaving their comfort zone for a meal, as they can easily find familiar dishes at the buffet.

Of course, there is a huge selection of more adventurous cuisine at the Windjammer as well for non-picky eaters. From spicy Indian cuisine to tropical fruits, dining at the buffet allows you to taste a plethora of new dishes throughout your cruise.

Arrive whenever you want

The Main Dining Room adheres to a stricter schedule compared to the buffet on a Royal Caribbean cruise. If you selected traditional dining when booking your cruise, your dinner is at a set time each evening.

Even if you selected My Time Dining, which allows you to show up to the dining room at any time during dinner hours, you may still face rigidity in regards to the time you dine. With My Time Dining, you can make reservations for a set time in advance each evening, or you can show up and wait in a line until a table is ready.

Related: Royal Caribbean My Time Dining versus Traditional Dining

For passengers who need more flexibility in dining times, dinner in the Main Dining Room can be too structured. Even if you show up to My Time Dining without a reservation, there’s a chance you’ll be waiting in line longer than you’d like.

If you dine at the buffet, though, you can arrive and eat at whatever time is most convenient, provided the Windjammer is open. There’s no need to make reservations or wait in a lengthy line. Simply show up, grab a plate, and enjoy your meal!

Frees up your evening

A long dinner can mess with your plans for the evening. If you want to see a show at 7PM, hit up the Solarium for sunset, or ride the waterslides with no lines, you may not want to be tied down to a set dinner schedule.

By eating at the buffet, you can quickly eat and continue the evening’s activities. There’s no need to sit down for one or two hours each evening when you could enjoy more exciting attractions around the ship!

You’re cruising with kids

If you’re cruising with young kids, eating in the Windjammer as opposed to the Main Dining Room can make your meals pass by much more smoothly. There’s no need to worry about your kids crying and screaming during an otherwise quiet meal or keeping them occupied when waiting for each course to arrive.

The buffet is a much more casual environment, meaning you can quickly feed your kids with (hopefully) a smaller chance of temper tantrums along the way.

Related: 50 best cruising with kids tips & secrets

Some parents prefer bringing their kids to the Windjammer for dinner before dropping them off at Adventure Ocean for supervised programming. Once the kids are dropped off, the parents can head to the Main Dining Room for a more tranquil meal.

If you are planning your first cruise, you are probably wondering what the best itinerary length is. 

Most cruises fall somewhere between 3- and 7-nights; however, it is not uncommon to find some that are longer! In fact, Royal Caribbean offers cruises that are 12+ nights long. 

These are often more destination-focused or are repositioning from one departure port to another (i.e., transatlantic cruises).

While shorter cruises do have their advantages, with the most obvious being that the overall cost will be less, the sweet spot for most first-time cruisers tends to be one week. 

This gives you enough time to explore what the ship has to offer without feeling rushed, as well as visit more ports of call. 

No matter how long your first cruise ends up being, you are sure to get off wishing it was longer! 

Related: Best first-time cruises on Royal Caribbean

For those looking for a quick getaway, book a 3- or 4-night cruise

Due to the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which is also known as the Jones Act,, all foreign-flagged ships departing from the United States must include a stop in a foreign country. 

For that reason, the itineraries of 3- and 4-night cruises are often pretty limited. If you are wanting to visit more unique destinations, like the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, or Alaska, you will need to look into a longer cruise. 

Because of their short length, 3- and 4-night cruises tend to be port intensive, meaning they are great options for those who do not  necessarily want to spend a lot of time onboard. You can spend your days exploring new ports and the evenings taking in what the ship has to offer. 

One of the biggest benefits to booking a shorter cruise is that optional packages (i.e., drink and dining packages) are cheaper than on longer sailings because you are paying for fewer days. Paying $70 per night for a Deluxe Beverage Package for 3- or 4-nights seems more reasonable than 7-nights!

Both cruises, however, tend to have more of a party atmosphere, which families might not enjoy. 

Related: Guide to weekend cruises: Tips for taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean cruise

What are the differences between 3- and 4-night cruises?

3-night cruises tend to depart on Friday and return on Monday, making them ideal for those with limited time off since two of your vacation days take place over the weekend! 

On the other hand, 4-night cruises usually take place during the week, or Monday through Friday, so you will most likely have to take an entire week of vacation. 

Additionally, 4-night cruises often include a sea day, which would allow you to experience onboard amenities during the day. It is unlikely that you will want to stay on the ship and relax by the pool if you could spend it on the beach in the Bahamas or Mexico instead!

5- or 6-nights cruises are a good in between

Compared to 3- and 4-night cruises, those that are 5- or 6-nights give you more options when it comes to choosing an appealing itinerary. While you may occasionally find a 4-night cruise that visits a Caribbean port, it is likely only going to be one followed by two days at sea. 

A 4-night cruise from Miami, for instance, might only visit Puerto Plata, Dominican Republican or Cozumel, Mexico before returning back to Florida. A similar itinerary on a 5- or 6-night cruise will visit at least two ports of call (think Cozumel and Perfect Day at CocoCay or Grand Cayman), giving you more time to explore new places!

While these will seldom be on the newest ships in the fleet, that does not mean you will be lacking onboard excitement. In 2024, for instance, Voyager of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Independence of the Seas, and Explorer of the Seas are all scheduled to sail 5-night cruises. 

Each ship has a FlowRider surf simulator, waterslides, an ice skating rink, and more. It is enough to see and do in 5-nights without feeling like you missed out on anything! 

Another advantage to longer cruises (those that are 5-nights and longer) is that you have more flexibility with departure ports. You will rarely find a 4-night cruise the departs from Baltimore, Maryland; however, this is where Vision of the Seas will depart from when making roundtrip 5-night cruises to Bermuda in 2023 and 2024. 

7- to 9-nights will give you more time to get your sea legs

You can visit more exciting ports on a longer cruise. Plus, you will be able to experience more of what the ship has to offer. It would be hard to check absolutely everything off of your "must-do" list in only 3-nights, especially if you are taking a short cruise on Allure of the Seas. 

With cruises that are 6- to 9-nights, you are more likely to be able to unpack and settle into your cabin, too. On my first 3-night cruise, I did not even bother to unpack my suitcase! I knew that in a few nights, I would just have to spend time repacking it when I could be doing other things on the ship. 

Moreover, you have more time to get the lay of the land. By the end of the trip, you might feel like a navigational pro! You will not need to look at the deck plan to get from point A to point B like during the first few days. 

If you are hoping to sail on some of Royal Caribbean's newest and most innovative ships, you will have to be prepared to take a 7-night cruise. Wonder of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, is currently scheduled to sail roundtrip from Port Canaveral, Florida through at least April 2025. 

Sometimes, you can find shorter cruises on these ships; however, you will have more options when it comes to dates if you are content with a weeklong cruise. Plus, due to the size of these ships, you really do need a full week onboard! 

As mentioned earlier, you will need at least 7-nights to visit more interesting destinations. It is rare, for instance, to find a 5-night Alaska cruise. If you are going to make that kind of trip, you should be committed to seeing as much as possible, anyway! 

10+ nights if you are really focused on the itinerary 

If you are looking at your first cruise to be longer than 10-nights, it is probably because it is destination-focused and visiting ports of call that are less common, especially on today's mega ships. 

You are likely to embrace the sea days and rest up after spending long days exploring. Unlike a 7-night cruise, you may not want to attend dance parties or other high energy evening entertainment. 

Oftentimes, the crowd on these sailings tends to skew older than weeklong ones and can often foster a greater sense of community since you will have longer to get to know your shipmates. 

Plus, if it is an exotic itinerary, a longer cruise might be able to help you justify the cost of travel to get to the embarkation port. In the end, the longer cruise normally provides a better value per day compared to shorter cruises.

If you are worried about motion sickness, just come prepared!

Do not let your fear of getting seasick prevent you from going on the cruise that you want to go on! There are plenty of remedies that will help lessen the severity of this issue, if it arises. 

For over-the-counter medication, there's Bonine and Dramamine.

Today, both brands offer medication whose formula includes meclizine hydrochloride, a synthetic antihistamine that was developed in the early 1950s and is meant to cause less drowsiness than dimenhydrinate. Plus, they also have medications that are more natural whose base is ginger, whether it be ginger root or extract. 

You can also purchase motion sickness patches or bands! 

It is best to do research prior to purchasing any to see what will work best for you. Alternatively, you can speak to your physician to see what they recommend. 

If you wait until you are on the ship, you may find your options to be limited; however, they will have some medication available if you do desperately need it. 

Note that Royal Caribbean Blog makes no warranties with regard to the safety or effectiveness of any anti-nausea medication or natural remedy. You should consult with a physician to get professional medical advice prior to taking any medication, especially if you have existing medical conditions, you're pregnant, or you're already taking other medications. 

Read more: What other cruisers wish they knew before going on their first cruise

Icon of the Seas may still be months away from sailing, but the cruise line is already simulating how its new water park at sea will operate.

Thrill Island is the name of a brand new neighborhood coming to the first Icon Class cruise ship, and it will include six water slides, new dining venues, and lots to keep families busy.

It's a new approach to aquatic fun on a cruise ship for Royal Caribbean, and they want to ensure everything looks and works great before any passenger gets onboard or the ship is even complete.

At Royal Caribbean's Innovation Lab in Miami, Florida, the cruise line life-size mock-ups to give its executives and team members a real-world look at what their plans on paper will actually look like once built.

Royal Caribbean calls Icon of the Seas a "white paper" ship, which means it's designed from the ground up with new concepts. While that's exciting for passengers to look forward to new tings to try, it also introduces new challenges to make it work for the cruise line.

While touring the Innovation Lab this week, RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com got a first-hand look at what Royal Caribbean is doing to ensure its new aqua park is ready to go on day one.

First neighborhood dedicated to thrills

The appropriately named Thrill neighborhood on Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's first fully themed neighborhood centered around fun activities designed to stimulate guests' senses.

Guests will find an entire water park, the FlowRider surf simulator, Crown's Edge experience, mini-golf, a rock climbing wall, and new dining venues inside this area.

Life-size testing

Royal Caribbean wanted to get a sense things would look and feel as intended before the final product gets built out, and that's why they set up scale mock-ups at their headquarters.

While the company can use virtual reality to help provide context for the flow and overall design of the ship, scale replicas convey the theme and aesthetics in the real world before it gets built out.

On the starboard side of the ship will be one entrance to Thrill Island, and guests will notice a great deal of theming even before entering the neighborhood.

The elevator lobby begins with a tropical look to it, leading you to the formal entry way. 

In the case of the signage leading to Thrill Island, the render provides how it will look, but you can't get as good sense of depth to it, "one of the discussions we had last week was, is it too high? Should it be lower or should it be higher? Because what you really want to see coming up the stairs is you really want to see how massively awesome the water park is. And so that's just something that we we look at."

Crown's Edge walkthrough in a parking lot

One of the feature attractions coming to Icon of the Seas is the Crown's Edge walkway, which combines a rope course with sky walk and obstacle course.

Guests are strapped in and walk 154 feet above the ocean for this experience.  It's a major feature on Icon of the Seas, and something never before done on sea or land.

Royal Caribbean first built out the safety briefing area where guests will gear up and learn what they need to do to enjoy the experience in a proper manner.

Royal Caribbean Senior Product Owner, Emily Rodriguez, talked about what they get from designing this space in the real world, "in building out this space, I think it helped us understand what that flow would look like, and how to think through all of the small details to how we brand the jumpsuits, how we brand the helmets, and what the photo and video experience would be like."

Royal Caribbean then used tape in their headquarters parking lot to map out to provide the scale of the experience, "We wanted to do here is tape out the experience to understand scale."

The climax of the experience is a drop through portion, which Royal Caribbean described as "pretty scary" when they tested out the drop harnesses with just a 4 foot drop in a warehouse in Bulgaria.

Crown's Edge will be about a two and a half minute experience, with 4 to 6 guests going at one time.

Building out the water park

The water park on Icon of the Seas will be called Category 6, and it will be the largest waterpark at sea.

There are two stair towers in the water park, the aft stair tower and the forward stair tower. But Royal Caribbean wanted to understand what that experience would look like from the from where the slides were placed to what the mat rack mat journey was going to be for the mat racers.

To that end, they built out a portion of water park in their lab. This provides operational learnings for the team to better understand if materials are too heavy, provide a flow study, and generally what things will be like once onboard.

"I think this is a really great exercise for us to understand what that flow was like, what that experience is like. And as we build these out, we capture lessons along the way," Ms. Rodriguez said.

The team even tested out the various chairs the neighborhood would use because Royal Caribbean anticipates while some members of the family will be doing the slides non-stop, other members of the family may want to take a rest and relax between slides.  As a result, Icon of the Seas will have different kinds of seating beyond a simple lounger.

"We wanted to make sure that we're creating an environment that offers just as much areas for you to refresh and recharge in between the thrills as well...We also wanted to talk through these unique seating opportunities and areas for you to really call your home base."

Basecamp

One area of Thrill Island is Basecamp, which will be a fast casual grab-and-go venue for Thrill Island that's going to serve handheld items.

"The idea of this is really a place for islanders to kind of hang out, swap stories in between thrills, catch a break, refresh on some great food, great bites," Ms. Rodriguez explained.

The exact menu offerings are still being worked through, so nothing is set yet. There will be some items that cost extra and other items that are complimentary.

Once again, creating a mock up of the dining area and surrounding attractions gives the team a better sense of flow, "we did want it to bring the whole experience together and look at how does furniture look like as well for the venue."

"So we pulled some of the sample furniture and really understanding if I was a guest and I wanted to grab a meal for my family while my kids are running the waterslides or playing mini golf right next door, what would that experience feel like?"

Gourmet milkshakes

Another new venue coming to Icon of the Seas is Desserted, which will sell gourmet milkshakes. You can even get milkshakes with alcohol in them.

Expect milkshakes with plenty of garnishes, such as sprinkles, donuts, candies, and churros.

The alcoholic version would have a little bottle of fireball sticking out of the top.

Ms. Rodriguez said, "So think over the top milkshakes," whereas Linken D'Souza, Global Vice President Culinary, Dining & Beverage, said, " We like to call Freakshakes."

I asked if the popular Royal Caribbean drink package would cover milkshakes at Desserted, and the team responded, "it's still a discussion."

The final menu is yet to be determined, but Mr. D'Souza expects there to be 3 or 4, "mega crazy milkshakes with all the toppings."

Guest flow through the waterpark

One issue the team discovered was Desserted and Base Camp were on the port side of the ship, but what about guests wanting a drink on the starboard side?

"We were having a lot of conversations internally and thinking through the guest flow, one of the things that we realized we needed was a way to get drinks on the starboard side near the water park."

So Royal Caribbean added a themed beverage cart to place near the FlowRider.  The cart will serve "ready to drink" canned beverages.

Getting back to the water park, the team is also working on something they're calling internally, "Eye of the Storm," where rain showers erupt randomly to the surprise and delight of passengers.

Located in one of the circulation areas where families will be walking through to get from slide to slide, you may hear a storm brewing, "Sounds of thunder, rain, wind, water will come from up above you. You don't really know where it's coming from. It really blends in with the environment and strobe lights as well to give that lightning effect and make you feel like a storm has just erupted."

Royal came up with different storm programming so it's not always the same experience.

No classic elevators on Icon of the Seas

One notable change Royal Caribbean has made with Icon of the Seas is the type of elevators.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider talked about the change in elevators, "We don't have classic elevators on Icon, we have destination elevators."

"If you think of the difference between the two of them, a classic elevator: as I walk up, I hit a button, I walk inside, I hit a floor, off I go."

"A destination elevator is I go to a panel, I tell you where I want to go, it tells you what elevator you should go to, and then I go to it."

Carnival Horizon and MSC Meraviglia both offer these sorts of elevators, Royal Caribbean feels their implementation will be somewhat different. 

Part of the reason why Royal Caribbean is opting to go with destination elevators is crowd management on a ship the size of Icon, "Being able to effectively move up to 7500 passengers seamlessly and solve for some of the problems that we've seen from our elevator technology on other ships, this is a big step forward."

"It's a big step forward, though, that we've been obsessively trying to study to make sure we don't we we don't run into some of the challenges that some of our competitors have seen."

After 17 years of cruising with Royal Caribbean, I'm less than two cruises away from reaching the highest tier of the cruise line's customer loyalty program.

There are 6 levels of the Crown and Anchor Society, but the very top level requires a great deal of dedication to a single cruise line to achieve.

Pinnacle Club status (henceforth referred to simply as "Pinnacle") means you accrue 700 points in Crown and Anchor Society.

I didn't have a goal when I first started to reach Pinnacle, but the more I cruised, the more apparent it became I would reach it sooner than I expected.

When I sail on the June 16, 2023 cruises on Navigator of the Seas, I should hit lucky number 700 early in that sailing.

Most cruisers will never get close to the 700 points needed, but if they do, there is a slew of new amenities and benefits, along with a distinct culture to Royal Caribbean's upper echelon of cruisers.

Reaching 700 points

I was never one to cruise more in order to attain a higher loyalty program status. 

Unlike the airline industry that places a great deal of emphasis on attaining status (primarily driven by business travelers), some of the best benefits for cruisers are when you get to the upper-middle tiers. However, Pinnacle status shares some similarities with the airline programs in terms of offering the most perks at the top.

I got into cruising because I liked the idea of visiting different ports, and the benefits I received along the way sweetened the experience.

I remember thinking about how lucrative it was to get to Platinum status and be eligible for a balcony discount.  Then I thought when I became a Diamond member and getting complimentary drinks every day of my cruise was just about the best I could hope to achieve.

It's a long way from Diamond Plus at 175 points to the 700 threshold for Pinnacle.  Two factors catapulted me significantly faster to 700 than I thought would otherwise.

First and foremost, I live in Florida, and that means I have access to year-round cruises without the additional cost of airfare. 

Florida is the cruising capital of the world because of all the cruise ships based here, and being able to drive to your cruise (especially when there's a cruise deal) enables far more cruising than living anywhere else.

I live in the Orlando area, and that puts four different Royal Caribbean home ports less than 4 hours of driving away.  Two of them are just about an hour away.

Compounding my Florida residency is of course the fact I've been working on RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com as my full time job.

Being able to "cruise for a living" meant I started going on many more cruises than I ever did when I had my former day job.  Similar to how retirees have the time to cruise a lot, I didn't have to balance vacation time needs. 

Of course, having a wife and two school-aged kids means I'm not sailing every week by any means.  It's a struggle to balance the school schedule, especially considering how much I love going with my kids on sailings around the world.

And in case you're thinking I get to cruise for free from various media cruise giveaways from Royal Caribbean, there are very few free cruises given to me (maybe twice per year), and most importantly, I receive zero Crown and Anchor points for media cruises.

But if there's one factor that got me to Pinnacle faster than living in Florida or even working on this blog, it was the double points promotion.

From 2020 through the end of 2022, Royal Caribbean offered double the normal amount of loyalty points for cruises booked during the cruise industry shutdown.

It was a strategy by the cruise line to spur new bookings at a time when many people were hesitant to book cruises on sailings they weren't sure were actually going to sail due to the uncertainty related to the industry's return to service.

Going on week-long cruises and getting 28 points per sailing (sailing in a suite or solo multiplied by 2) moves you up the ladder a heck of a lot faster.

Everyone in Crown and Anchor Society benefitted from the double points, and it certainly accelerated my points trajectory.

Why reaching Pinnacle means something

When I got to Diamond Plus status (175 points), I thought I had reached the mountain top of Royal Caribbean status for what was realistic for me, and I was content being there because I didn't truly grasp the value of getting to Pinnacle.

The more you cruise, the more friends you'll make along the way, and I've gotten to known many wonderful people that were already Pinnacle members or turned Pinnacle later.

Everyone has a story how they attained what seemed like the impossible: seven hundred points!

In speaking with them and observing other cruisers, it's clear being a Pinnacle is more than just a different color on your SetSail pass or an extra free drink every day.

Royal Caribbean itself places a ton of emphasis on its top tier cruisers. In short, they want other cruisers and crew members to know someone is a Pinnacle compared to any other Crown and Anchor status.

Pinnacles get gold SeaPass cards, are able to check-in with the suite guests, get mentioned at Top Tier events onboard, and receive a gold lapel nametag to wear around the ship.

While I personally don't care for the badge as something I want to wear, it's incredible how much emphasis the Pinnacle program gets from the company.

I think any customer wants to feel valued, whether at a sandwich shop, car dealership, or on a cruise ship. Certainly most companies talk about how much they love their customers, but Royal Caribbean backs it up with action.

Beyond the added benefits listed later in this article, it's more than lip service. When policies are amended, the cruise line often makes special stipulations just for Pinnacle Club members.

In my observations, it seems Pinnacles also get a lot of officers onboard speaking to them to not only get to know these people, but take care of concerns they may have. 

I don't want it to seem like Pinnacles get everything they want and the cruise line is perfect in their handling, but Pinnacles get more attention than any other tier.  I can appreciate that Royal Caribbean cares beyond form letters and freebies.

The extras you get with Pinnacle status

In case you're wondering what extras you can expect if you reach 700 points, here's a breakdown of the benefits Royal Caribbean lists for its Pinnacle guests.

• Flexible arrival
• Personalized lapel pin for Pinnacle Club
• Pinnacle Club SeaPass Card with exclusive privileges
• Daily breakfast at a specialty restaurant
• Exclusive nightly pinnacle club event
• Milestone cruise certificate valued at the prevailing rate of a 7-night balcony stateroom for 700 and 1050 cruise points
• Milestone cruise certificate valued at the prevailing rate of a Junior Suite stateroom for 1,400 and every 350 cruise points thereafter
• Bigger discount on Balcony & Suite staterooms compared to a Diamond Plus member

The free cruises for continuing past 700 points is a really nice option that adds a tremendous amount of value.

After hitting the Pinnacle Club level, you’ll get an additional free cruise every time you accumulate another 350 points. That means you will get an initial free cruise after hitting 700 points, and then additional cruises at 1,050 points, 1,400 points, 1,750 points, etc.

The free cruise is for two people, but you can bring a third and fourth guest. You'll just have to pay for their fares. 

The first two cruises are in a balcony cabin. After that, you quality for a junior suite.

If you don’t want to sail the Caribbean, you can ask for a cruise credit to use toward an itinerary somewhere else. Royal Caribbean will give you $2,400 toward the purchase of a cruise at 700 and 1,050 points, and $3,200 toward the purchase of a cruise at 1,400 points and above.

Two more cruises to go

With just about 20 points to go until I make Pinnacle, I find myself reflecting on the years of cruising.

If my math is right, I've taken 68 cruises so far and that means I'll reach 700 once I'm on cruise number 70, which will be Navigator of the Seas on the June 16th sailing.

If you were to ask what it feels like to reach Pinnacle, my answer would be "surreal".

I never thought I would reach Pinnacle quite this soon, but in doing so, it feels like a new phase of my Royal Caribbean cruising career will open, similar to how things changed onboard when I hit Diamond.

I'm grateful to my many friends who are already Pinnacle and have shared their experiences over the years. As one of our writers is fond to say, "cruising is what you make of it" and the Crown and Anchor Society is very much the same way.

I may not take advantage of every single Pinnacle benefit, but there are a few I'm very much looking forward to, such as priority embarkation and complimentary internet access.

Of course, the complimentary cruises along the way will be yet another good rationale for telling my wife we "need to book another cruise."

I hope sharing my experience will provide you with context for perhaps making it to Pinnacle as well some day, and what Crown and Anchor Society offers its most loyal cruisers.

Did you miss any of this week's Royal Caribbean news? No worries, because we have you covered with our wrap-up of cruise news!

Want to know the what is the best location for a cabin on a cruise ship?

It may seem like a simple question, but there's many factors that make it more difficult to answer because what's best for one person can vary greatly for someone else.

There's a variety of cabin locations, as well as cabin types to consider. However, we narrowed down the options to the kinds of cruise cabins usually booked up in high demand because of their great location.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean announces 2024-2025 Australia and New Zealand cruises
• Royal Caribbean Group outlines sustainability progress
• After 12 sailings on Mariner of the Seas, I’m convinced this ship offers the best value Royal Caribbean has to offer
• Royal Caribbean Grand Suite Perks
• I crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a cheap cruise. Here’s what it's really like to spend 10 days at sea
• 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren't prepared for
• Cheap places in the US to fly to for a cruise

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 496th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, in which Matt discusses six things from his Mariner of the Seas cruise that stood out.

Matt just sailed on a 5-night Western Caribbean cruise on Mariner of the Seas and talked about changes and new options he tried on this sailing.

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.

New RCB Video: All The Things To Do As Soon as You Get to Your Cruise Cabin!

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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 — All The Things To Do As Soon as You Get to Your Cruise Cabin! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Really dumb cruise ship cabin questions!

We've seen just about any kind of cruise ship questions out there, including a lot of very basic question related to cruise ship cabins.

Whether asking if crew members sleep onboard or if it’s easy to fall off your balcony, we’ve received a handful of amusing questions over the years.

It makes sense someone new to cruising would have these sort of questions, so here are answers to cruise ship cabin questions.

The 5 easy ways to contact Royal Caribbean (and two to avoid)

When you have a question or concern, it can be downright frustrating if you can't get an answer easily.

Royal Caribbean provides customer service in many facets, but there are a few that stand out as being the best ways to contact Royal Caribbean customer service if you need them.

Knowing where to turn to when you have a nagging problem or time-sensitive issue can be frustrating if you aren't getting a response in a timely manner.

When is the best time to buy a drink package?

Royal Caribbean's drink packages are incredibly popular, but what's the best time to buy a drink package to get the lowest price?

There are three Royal Caribbean drink packages and pricing can vary depending on sail date, ship, and itinerary. Plus, the price changes in the months leading up to your cruise.

If you play it right, you can lock in the best possible price for a drink package.

A cruise vacation may involve cocktails on the pool deck, white sand beaches, and impressive entertainment, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.

While cruising is an excellent way to vacation, it can come with a number of unexpected problems. If you’re new to cruising, you may daydream about a perfect, stress-free vacation, but there are a few painful, unexpected, and downright gross problems you might encounter.

From diarrhea to sunburn and copious amounts of sweating, here are the top 22 unpleasant cruise ship problems you aren’t prepared for.

Heartburn and acid reflux

Whenever I’m on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I find myself dealing with heartburn more often than usual. While you can certainly find healthy foods onboard, most passengers indulge on more fatty and fried foods than they normally would.

This can quickly lead to uncomfortable heartburn that leaves you feeling miserable.

To counteract this problem, I recommend packing TUMS or other antacid products. You could also lay off the 2AM slices of pizza at Sorrento’s and third helping of fried shrimp at dinner, although this will take significantly more willpower!

Diarrhea

Another unfortunate problem many cruisers face while onboard is diarrhea. The sudden change of diet combined with new types of food and long hours traveling can wreak havoc on your digestive system.

This problem can get even worse if you eat questionable street food or drink contaminated water in a foreign country.

My best tip is to pack anti-diarrhea medication for your cruise, as you never know when or if you will experience diarrhea. If your stomach is making… suspicious noises when getting ready for a port day, bring a roll of toilet paper in your bag just in case!

Constipation

On the other end of the spectrum is constipation, which is another problem many cruisers face while onboard. Again, the sudden change in lifestyle in diet on a cruise can confuse your digestive system, leaving you feeling miserable and constipated.

It’s advised to eat fiber-rich foods while on a cruise to prevent constipation, including whole grains, beans, and fruits. And, before loading your plate with quesadillas and steak, add a few vegetables, too, and be sure to stay hydrated.

Sunburn

By day two of a cruise, it’s almost guaranteed to see a large number of bright red, sunburned passengers on your ship. No one wants to get sunburned on a cruise, and while some passengers are more prone to sunburns than others, it’s extremely important to prevent burning as much as possible.

Depending on your cruise destination, the sun could be a lot stronger than what you’re used to at home, especially if you’re traveling from a cold climate to a tropical climate. Always remember to apply (and reapply) sunscreen generously both onboard and in port to prevent sunburn.

Related: 10 worst cruise fails by our readers

Personally, I’ve had terrible experiences with spray sunscreen which have resulted in extremely painful sunburns. Because of this, I always advise packing sunscreen lotion over the spray variety.

It’s also recommended to pack aloe vera for a cruise. Sunscreen or not, sunburns can still happen, and aloe vera is much more affordable at your local drugstore compared to the price on your cruise ship.

Sweating

There’s nothing pleasant about sweating, but unfortunately, it’s a common occurrence on a cruise vacation. While you might not sweat much while cruising to the Arctic or Alaska, it’s likely you’ll be very sweaty on a warm weather cruise.

Whether cruising to the Caribbean, Europe, South Pacific, or Southeast Asia, you can encounter uncomfortably warm temperatures onboard and in port. If you’re not used to these temperatures, your body will overcompensate for the temperature, leading to intense sweating.

While it’s a bit embarrassing to walk around with sweat stains on your armpits and back, it’s an unfortunate reality of being on a cruise!

Bloating

Food is an enjoyable and important aspect of any cruise vacation, from sushi rolls at Izumi to molten chocolate cake in the Main Dining Room. Sadly, indulging in delicious cuisine while onboard can lead to bloating, a problem no passenger wants to deal with.

Combat bloating by eating more slowly, chewing food properly before swallowing, and increasing physical activity while onboard. It’s also a good idea to drink water and avoid foods that typically cause you to bloat, such as dairy products or bread.

Not only is bloating uncomfortable, but it can destroy your plans of wearing that cute, tight dress on formal night!

Blisters

Most passengers find themselves walking more on a cruise compared to their day-to-day life at home. Cruise ships are big, and walking up, down, and around the ship results in thousands of steps!

Not only that, but many ports and shore excursions require more walking than you’re used to. If you’re cruising to Europe, for example, you may walk several miles each day, whether sightseeing in Rome or strolling through Santorini.

Although walking is, of course, beneficial for your health, it can result in painful blisters, particularly when wearing new shoes.

Due to this, we recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes that you have worn many times before. Even though wearing a brand-new pair of shoes may sound like a nice idea, breaking in the shoes can lead to uncomfortable blisters.

Chafing

You may also experience chafing with the increased amount of walking on a cruise.

Chafing is an irritation of your skin that occurs when skin rubs against skin or clothing. This most commonly happens when walking in shorts, skirts, or dresses, as your thighs might continuously rub against each other.

Many cruisers enjoy traveling with anti-chafing shorts, which are breathable, lightweight slip shorts to wear under clothing. You can also apply a skin lubricant to your thighs in order to decrease friction when walking.

Limited time in port

If you’ve never cruised before, it can be an adjustment to plan your day based on your cruise ship’s schedule. Whereas on a land-based vacation you are in control of your schedule, on a cruise you must adhere to the hours your ship is in each port.

Most cruise ships stay in port between 8-10 hours, which gives ample time to experience a destination’s highlights. Nonetheless, it does not provide as much time as you would have when traveling independently, and often results in checking the time over and over again to ensure you make it back to the ship before it departs.

Nevertheless, a major advantage of a cruise is being able to experience multiple diverse places in one vacation. For many cruisers, this is a good enough trade off for the limited time in each port.

Busy ports

While your cruise ship’s brochure may showcase images of empty beaches and quiet ports, the reality is that the ports you visit on a cruise can be extremely busy. Some cruise ports, such as Nassau and Cozumel, can easily have over four or five ships in port on any given day.

Given that each ship houses several thousand passengers, there could be upwards of 20,000 passengers in port during the day! This leads to crowds when exiting the ship and walking on the pier, as well as crowds in restaurants, shopping districts, and beaches nearest to the port.

Related: 7 ways to have a great time in port without a cruise ship shore excursion

The good news, however, is that you can almost always find hidden gems in any cruise port. Generally, the majority of cruise passengers stay within a close distance to the port or take part in organized shore excursions.

Doing research ahead of time on less crowded areas in your ports of call can lead to unspoiled beaches and authentic restaurants that won’t have you competing with heaps of other passengers for space.

Chair hogs

If there’s one complaint we hear time and time again about going on a cruise, it’s chair hogs.

Chair hogs are passengers who reserve a pool chair early in the morning by placing a towel, shoe, or other item on the chair. Instead of staying by the pool, though, they do not return for a long period of time. This results in the chair being unavailable to other passengers who want to enjoy the pool deck.

Related: How to beat the chair hogs on your cruise ship

Although cruise lines are starting to reinforce their policies against chair hogs, it’s still a common issue to encounter while onboard, especially on sea days.

Hangovers

While another round of shots may sound like a good idea at 1AM, you might find yourself regretting the decision the following morning.

It’s common to enjoy alcoholic beverages on a Royal Caribbean cruise. With so many unique bars and cocktails to choose from, most passengers drink significantly more alcohol on a cruise compared to at home.

Unfortunately, the increase in alcohol consumption also leads to a higher chance of hangovers. A bad hangover can ruin any plans for the day, whether you intended to go snorkeling, hiking, or sunbathing.

Although you’re free to enjoy drinks throughout your cruise vacation, remember to pace yourself (and drink water!) to avoid feeling terrible later on. 

Norovirus

Just like in any other public space, there’s always a possibility of norovirus spreading on a cruise ship. This contagious virus leads to vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain, and can quickly ruin any cruise vacation.

Norovirus is found in the stool or vomit of those infected with the virus. When infected people do not adequately wash their hands after coming in contact with the virus, it can rapidly spread through contaminated food, liquids, and objects.

I always recommend carrying around a small bottle of hand sanitizer onboard to use after touching heavily used items, such as the tongs at the buffet or staircase railings.

Luckily, norovirus is far less common on cruise ships than you might think. In most cases, you have nothing to worry about, although taking precautions by frequently washing your hands is helpful.

Other germs

Outside of norovirus, cruise ships can harbor a plethora of other germs. With thousands of passengers on a cruise ship at the same time, illnesses like the flu and common cold can spread from one passenger to another.

Just like with norovirus, taking precautions to wash your hands frequently can help prevent coming into contact with illnesses. Additionally, coughing and sneezing into your elbow instead of your hand prevents spreading germs to other passengers.

We never advise boarding a cruise ship if you’re feeling ill, and it’s always a good idea to purchase travel insurance for a cruise so you’re protected in the case of unexpected illness.

Crowded pools

Speaking of chair hogs, a crowded pool deck is another unpleasant cruise ship problem you aren’t prepared for.

On any given day, your cruise ship pool deck could be packed with other passengers, although this is most common on sea days. Around 10 or 11AM, passengers finish breakfast and start heading to the pool deck. By noon, it’s common to find the pool deck exceptionally crowded.

If your idea of a relaxing day by the pool involves a quiet, serene experience, you’ll likely be disappointed. Even though all Royal Caribbean cruise ships have multiple pools and hot tubs, you’re unlikely to find any of them empty in the middle of the day.

My best advice for those in search of fewer crowds is to head to the pool deck in the early morning or late evening each day. At these times, there are very few other passengers enjoying these amenities.

Cheap toilet paper

If you’re used to soft toilet paper at home, you’re in for a rude awakening on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

The toilet paper on a cruise ship is far from luxurious—the paper is so thin that you can almost see through it! To help avoid disasters in the cruise ship plumbing system, cruise lines stock bathrooms with thin, easily flushable toilet paper.

Those accustomed to thicker toilet paper may experience an unpleasant experience in their cruise cabin’s bathroom, especially if experiencing other problems like diarrhea or norovirus! Yikes!

Lines

Waiting in line is an unpleasant experience on a cruise, but it’s something you will encounter every day while onboard.

Lines are common at popular dining venues, such as El Loco Fresh, and for activities like the FlowRider, laser tag, and waterslides. Lines typically move relatively quickly, but it's always annoying to wait in long lines on your vacation!

Our best advice to minimize time waiting in lines is to visit venues when they are less busy. If you’re hoping to climb the rock climbing wall, head there at the beginning of the morning session or for the afternoon session on a port day.

Likewise, if you don’t want to wait in line for dinner in the Main Dining Room, be sure to make My Time Dining reservations in advance or select traditional dining.

Related: 21 tips for the best cruise ship Main Dining Room experience

Any time wasted in line is, after all, precious vacation time wasted!

Seasickness

Feeling seasick on a cruise is not as common as you might think, but it still happens.

As your cruise ship moves from port to port, it can occasionally experience rough seas. While some bodies of water and climates are more prone to high seas than others, you might experience seasickness on any cruise vacation.

Related: How to avoid getting seasick on a cruise

Fortunately, it’s easy to combat feelings of seasickness on a cruise. Packing motion sickness medication like Dramamine offers an easy fix, although you can also rely on natural remedies like eating green apples and ginger.

In addition, you may want to select a cruise cabin less prone to motion. Cabins located mid-ship and those on lower decks usually feel less motion than those in the very forward or aft of the ship.

Expensive prices on essentials

Forgot your sunscreen or phone charger at home? These items are sold on your cruise ship, but they aren’t budget friendly.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships sell toiletries and electronic items onboard, but the prices are much higher than what you’ll find in a store on land. A single toothbrush that costs $1 at home can cost over $5 onboard, as an example, and there will be far fewer options available.

In addition to the higher prices are the limited operating hours for stores onboard. Due to regulations, cruise ship stores can only open when the ship is in international waters. Stores selling necessities are closed on embarkation day and port days.

If you find yourself in need of an item like Ibuprofen or aloe vera while your ship is docked, you’re out of luck.

Itinerary changes

Everyone wishes for a perfect vacation, but traveling is unpredictable.

Royal Caribbean has the power to change your cruise itinerary (and ship) at any moment. If you booked a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, an approaching hurricane can cause the itinerary to shift to a Western Caribbean cruise.

Weather conditions can also affect whether or not your cruise ship can dock in a particular port. If winds are too strong, the weather could prevent your ship from docking in port, resulting in an extra day at sea.

It’s always important to stay flexible on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Ultimately, Royal Caribbean cannot control the weather, and it’s better to remain flexible rather than declare your vacation ruined!

Missing the ship

One of the absolute worst problems that happens on a cruise is missing your cruise ship while in port!

No matter the cruise, you might see passengers sprinting on the pier to reach their cruise ship before it sails away. Occasionally, passengers will not make it back in time, leaving them stranded in port while all their belongings remain on the ship!

Related: What happens if you miss your cruise ship?

Being responsible ensures you will make it back to the ship with plenty of time to spare. You should always take note of any time zone changes and avoid traveling too far from the cruise port. We recommend getting back onboard around an hour before all aboard time just in case of any unexpected delays when traveling back to your ship.

Weight gain

Unlimited soft serve ice cream? Five appetizers at dinner? Thirteen piña coladas on the pool deck? Yes, please!

There’s no harm in indulging on a cruise, but you should prepare yourself for the potential weight gain. Many cruisers gain a couple pounds on a cruise, although there are a few ways to combat this unpleasant problem.

First, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Taking the stairs not only helps you burn extra calories, but you won’t have to waste time waiting for the elevator to arrive.

You may also want to make healthy choices for at least one meal a day. Instead of a greasy cheeseburger for lunch, why not hit up the soup and salad bar? Or, if another three-course meal in the dining room seems overwhelming, opt for a smaller meal at the Windjammer instead.

Related: How I kept from gaining weight on my cruise

Lastly, look for active activities and shore excursions. Instead of trivia, participate in a sports competition on the sports court, try out the surfing simulator, or make a few laps on the running track.

Staying active and making healthy choices not only prevents you from gaining extra weight, but it also helps avoid several of the other unpleasant problems on this list, such as constipation and diarrhea.

Royal Caribbean has released their itineraries for the 2024-2025 Australia cruise season. 

The season will kick off with two repositioning cruises, the first of which will be on Ovation of the Seas and depart from Honolulu, Hawaii on October 13, 2024. Quantum of the Seas will follow suit a few weeks later, departing from Singapore on November 19, 2024. 

Both ships will remain in Australia through April 2025 and will offer cruises ranging from 2- to 14-nights, excluding the 19-night repositioning cruise on Ovation of the Seas, from Brisbane and Sydney.

Below is a breakdown of all the Australia and New Zealand itineraries that Royal Caribbean is offering in 2024 and 2025 that will go on sale to the public on May 4. 

Ovation of the Seas

Great Pacific Crossing

The season begins when Ovation of the Seas sails from Honolulu, Hawaii to Sydney on October 13, 2024. This 19-night cruise will visit Papeete, Moorea, Raiatea, Auckland, and Bay of Islands before arriving in Australia.

Sydney Getaway

Ovation of the Seas will make four cruises to nowhere. These 2- and 3-night weekend cruises are great short getaways for those looking for explore the ship, as the do not visit any ports of call. They will depart on November 1 and December 15, 2024, as well as February 20 and March 22, 2025. 

South Pacific Adventure

There will be five South Pacific Adventure cruises that visit Mystery Island, Port Vila, and Noumea and last either 8- or 9-nights. Note that depending on which sailing is chosen, the order of the ports may change.

The 9-night cruises depart on November 4, 2024; February 23, 2025; and April 3, 2025. In fact, this itinerary will be the last before Ovation of the Seas departs Australia at the end of the season on April 12. 

There are also two 8-night versions of this itinerary: January 7 and 15, 2025. 

Sunshine State Sun-Soaker

The 8- and 7-night Sunshine State Sun-Soaker cruises depart on November 13, 2024 and January 23, 2025, respectively. The first will visit Airlie Beach, Cairns, and Willis Island (cruising), with the latter skipping Willis Island due to the shorter itinerary length. 

Escape to the South

Both Escape to the South cruises are 7-nights and will sail to Adelaide and Hobart from Sydney. The first departs on November 21, 2024, with the second leaving a few months later on March 15, 2025.

New Zealand Wonders

The New Zealand Wonders cruise is one of the longest that is offered on Ovation of the Seas during the 2024-2025 season. Each sailing lasts either 10- or 11-nights!

Those on this cruise will visit (in no particular order) Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Picton, before returning to Sydney. The 11-night sailing includes an additional stop in Napier.

The New Zealand Wonders cruises departs on November 28, 2024; February 9, 2025; and March 24, 2025. 

South Pacific Splendour

There is only one South Pacific Splendor sailing, and it departs on December 8, 2024. Passengers on this 7-night cruise will get to explore Noumea and Mystery Island, plus five fun days at sea to explore everything the ship has to offer. 

Holiday cruises

Both holiday cruises onboard Ovation of the Seas are 10-nights and sail to New Zealand. 

The first, New Zealand Christmas, departs Sydney on December 18, 2024 and will stop in Wellington, Picton, Christchurch, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Milford Sound. 

New Year's in Zealand will leave on December 28, 2024, and you will get to ring in the New Year onboard while visiting Picton, Tauranaga, Auckland, and Bay of Islands. 

South Pacific Explorer

The only South Pacific Explorer cruise sails to Noumea, Mystery Island, and Port Vila. Note, though, that it is an overnight stop in Port Vila! This is the only cruise on Ovation of the Seas during the 2024-2025 Australia season to offer an overnight stay in any port of call. 

The cruise departs on January 30, 2025. 

New Zealand Wanderer

This 11-night cruise combines some of the highlights of both New Zealand holiday cruises, visiting Auckland, Tauranaga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, and Picton. 

Quantum of the Seas

Singapore to Brisbane

Quantum of the Seas moves to Australia a little bit later than Ovation. She will not begin her repositioning trip until November 19, 2024. This 12-night cruise will depart from Singapore and visit Lombok, Darwin, Cairns, and Airlie Beach before reaching her seasonal homeport: Brisbane. 

Sunshine State Sun-Soaker

For the most part, cruises on Quantum of the Seas are shorter than Ovation's. The Sunshine State Sun-Soaker itineraries, for instance, are either 4-, 5-, or 6-nights, compared to Ovation's 7- and 8-night cruises. 

After departing Brisbane, guests will visit a singular port, Airlie Beach. The 5- and 6-night cruises includes an overnight stay. 

The 4-night cruises depart on February 28 and March 10, 2025, while the 5- and 6-night cruises leave Brisbane on December 1, 2024 and January 4, 2025. 

South Pacific Splendour

While there is only one South Pacific Splendor sailing on Ovation of the Seas, this is one of Quantum's most frequent sailings during the 2024-2025 Australia season. 

The 7-night cruises depart on December 6, 2024; January 10, 2025; January 17, 2025; January 24, 2025; February 7, 2025; February 28, 2025; and March 28, 2025. 

Ports of call include a mix of Mystery Island, Noumea, and Port Vila. A total of two stops will be made on each cruise. 

South Pacific Adventure

Both South Pacific Adventure cruises are 8-nights and visit Noumea, Mystery Island, and Port Vila. They depart on December 13, 2024 and February 13, 2025. 

Holiday cruises

Quantum of the Seas' holiday cruises are shorter than Ovation's. The 7-night South Pacific Christmas cruise departs on December 21, 2024 and sails to Port Vila and Mystery Island. 

On December 28, 2024, Quantum of the Seas will depart on the South Pacific NYE cruise and visit Noumea and Mystery Island. 

Brisbane Getaway

There will be three cruises to nowhere. These 2- and 3-night weekend cruises do not visit any ports of call, so they are good for those looking for a short getaway to take advantage of everything the Quantum Class ship has to offer. 

The 2-night cruise departs on February 22, 2025, while the 3-night sailings leave Brisbane on January 31 and March 7, 2025. 

New Zealand Wonders

The 14-night New Zealand Wonders cruise is the longest itinerary for Quantum of the Seas while based in Australia. It will depart on March 14, 2025 and visit Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, and Milford Sound.  

This is also the only cruise to New Zealand from Brisbane during the 2024-2025 Australia season. 

What can you do while you wait for bookings to open?

With the announcement of new Australia bookings, I is time to get excited and began preparing for your next trip. 

Go ahead and reach out to a travel agent about what cruise you might be interested in. If you are not sure, you can talk about your preferences and interests, and they will help guide you through the decision. 

You can begin to think about how long you want to be gone, as well what what type of cabin you would like to stay in. 

Taking just a few steps ahead of time can save you a lot of stress when bookings open up!

There’s no such thing as a dumb question, but occasionally we receive a question about cruise ship cabins that makes us scratch our heads. Whether asking if crew members sleep onboard or if it’s easy to fall off your balcony, we’ve received a handful of amusing questions over the years.

It’s understandable that first time cruisers have many questions about their cabin. After all, cruise cabins differ greatly from hotel rooms in size, amenities, service, and cabin categories.

Consider the questions in this post as your personal “Cruise Ship Cabins for Dummies.” We swear you’ll feel smarter and more confident about booking a cruise cabin after you’ve read it.

What is a stateroom on a cruise ship?

A stateroom on a cruise ship is another word for your cabin—the two words are used interchangeably. In a cruise stateroom you’ll find a bed, bathroom, couch or chair, desk, and vanity. The biggest suites may include additional features such as a jacuzzi, espresso maker, and multiple bedrooms.

Related: What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?

There are four main cabin categories on a Royal Caribbean cruise:

• Interior: a small room with no window, balcony, or porthole to the outside
• Oceanview: a room with a porthole looking out to the ocean
• Balcony: a cabin with a private balcony
• Suite: an upgraded room with a larger space and added perks

Every passenger onboard must select a stateroom category when booking a cruise. Balcony cabins are among the most popular, although interior and oceanview rooms are great for those on a budget. Suites, on the other hand, are the most expensive, but offer a much more luxurious cruise experience.

How big are cruise ship cabins?

The size of a cruise ship cabin varies based on the type of cabin and ship you book. Older ships tend to have smaller cabins whereas newer ships feature the largest, most spacious rooms and suites. Some ships may also have 'spacious' cabins available in each category, such as spacious oceanview cabins, which provide more square footage space.

In addition, accessible rooms are significantly larger than standard cabins, but are designed for guests with disabilities. These rooms range from 159 to 298 square feet.

You can expect to see the following cabin sizes on Royal Caribbean, although exact size will differ by ship and stateroom type:

• Interior: 136-172 square feet
• Oceanview: 170-182 square feet
• Balcony: 179-204 square foot room, 40-50 square foot balcony

The size of a Royal Caribbean suite can vary drastically by the type of suite you book. Junior Suites start at 243 square feet (with a 74 square foot balcony) on Royal Caribbean’s oldest ships. The fleet’s newest ships, on the other hand, feature two-story suites with over 1,000 square feet of living space!

Related: Royal Caribbean suites guide & review

To find the exact size of your cruise cabin, search Royal Caribbean’s website for a deck plan of your ship.

How many people can stay in a cruise ship cabin?

Most Royal Caribbean cruise cabins accommodate between two and four guests. To accommodate over two guests, your cabin will have a sofa bed, pullman bed(s), or bunk beds. A limited number of family staterooms may be available on your ship, which can accommodate up to five or six guests.

Related: What's the best cruise ship cabin for my family?

Not all cabins can accommodate more than two guests, though, so it’s important to book early if you need more than two guests in the room. Before doing so, however, check the price of two connecting rooms instead of cramming all guests into one room.

Connecting cabins have a door in between the two rooms, allowing you to access both cabins without stepping into the hallway. Occasionally, putting two guests in each connecting cabin is the same price (or even less) as booking all four guests in one room. Plus, you get much more living space.

Does an oceanview cabin have a balcony?

Oceanview cabins on Royal Caribbean cruise ships do not have a balcony. Instead, they have a private porthole facing the ocean. If you want a balcony cabin, you must book a balcony room or suite.

Despite the lack of a balcony, many passengers enjoy cruising in oceanview cabins. The porthole brings natural light and views to the cabin at a reasonable price, and it's certainly an upgrade from a tiny, windowless interior room.

Related: Inside cabin vs oceanview cabin: Are the differences worth an upgrade?

How big is a cruise ship cabin bed?

Most Royal Caribbean cruise cabins have a king size bed, although in reality the bed is made from two twin beds placed together. You can choose to have your beds separated or together depending on your travel party. If you need your beds separated, call housekeeping once onboard to request the change.

Studio cabins—staterooms for just one solo guest—have either a twin size or full size bed. Studio cabins on Radiance and Voyager Class ships have a twin size bed whereas the solo rooms on Quantum and Oasis Class ships have a full size bed. These rooms are smaller than standard cabins, resulting in a smaller bed.

Related: Guide to Royal Caribbean's Single and Studio staterooms

Is there a hair dryer in the room?

All Royal Caribbean cruise cabins come with a hair dryer, although it may not be as powerful as the hair dryer you have at home. You can usually find the hair dryer in one of your cruise cabin drawers. Guests who prefer to bring their own hair dryer can do so as well.

How do I get more towels?

Your stateroom attendant will replenish your bath towels each day when they come to clean your cabin. If you need more towels, you have two options:

• Ask your stateroom attendant for extra towels when you see him or her in the hallway
• Call housekeeping and request that additional towels be brought to your cabin

If you know you will need additional towels every day of the cruise, let your stateroom attendant know on embarkation day so they know to bring extra whenever they clean your cabin.

When does my stateroom attendant clean my cabin?

Most cabins are cleaned once per day by a stateroom attendant onboard. If you’re staying in a suite, your cabin will be cleaned twice per day.

You can choose to have your cabin serviced in either the morning or evening. Housekeeping service usually takes less than fifteen minutes, during which your stateroom attendant picks up the cabin and replenishes toiletries and towels.

Why didn’t my room get cleaned?

On the inside of your cabin door is a two-sided magnet. One side of the magnet has the words Out catching thrills: Please make up my room. The other side says Sleeping off the adventure: Please do not disturb.

Putting this magnet on the outside of your cabin door lets your stateroom attendant know when they are able to clean your cabin. Occasionally, guests may forget to switch the magnet from do not disturb, so their stateroom attendant will not enter the cabin.

If this happens to you, you can always call housekeeping (within cleaning hours) in order to have your room serviced. Or, if you see your stateroom attendant in the hallway, ask them if they are able to clean your room.

Is there a TV in the room?

All Royal Caribbean cruise cabins have a TV. On the TV guests can watch 29 channels, including BBC World News, FOX News, MSNBC, Sky News (Europe and Australia only), ESPN, and ESPN 2.

Exact channel offerings depend on the particular ship and its location. If sailing through remote areas, the channels may encounter outages.

In addition to major news outlets, you will find a channel providing information on your sailing, which includes a live stream from the ship’s bridge and a map of your itinerary.

Some ships also allow guests to order movies on demand for an extra charge as well as check your SeaPass account, view safety and security information, and view the room service menu.

This is available on Allure of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Voyager of the Seas.

Do I have to share a bathroom with other passengers?

Thankfully, cruise ships are not hostels (phew!), so you will not have to share a bathroom with other passengers. Every cabin on a Royal Caribbean cruise has a private bathroom, where you’ll find a toilet, sink, and shower. Suite category cabins also have a bathtub.

Related: Where does the poop go on a cruise ship?

What is that spaceship sound?

If you hear a “WHOOOOSH” sound every so often on a Royal Caribbean cruise, don’t be alarmed… it’s just the toilet!

Royal Caribbean’s toilets use a suction system to minimize the water needed to flush. As a result—just like on an airplane—flushing your cruise cabin’s toilet can be loud. It’s so loud, in fact, that you can hear the flushing noise from the cabins around you!

Should I be scared about falling off the balcony?

A common fear of first time cruisers is that they will accidentally fall off their balcony into the ocean below, but this is extremely unlikely. The railings on Royal Caribbean’s balcony cabins are around four feet tall, meaning it’s practically impossible to accidentally fall off.

Related: Guide to balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean

While stories of passengers falling off balconies on cruise ships occasionally appear in the news, these situations are almost always the result of someone purposely climbing on the balcony railing.

Additionally, balcony doors have a manual lock located high on the door frame. If you’re cruising with kids, using this lock prevents children from accessing the balcony on their own. 

Can other ships see into my cabin while docked in port?

If you have a balcony or oceanview room on your cruise, take extra caution when docked next to other ships in port. If your cabin faces the ship docked next to yours, the passengers on that ship can see onto your balcony and, if your curtains are open, into your cabin!

Before getting changed or walking around your cabin without wearing clothes, double check to make sure no one can see into your cabin from outside!

Do crew members sleep onboard?

Perhaps the silliest question we’re asked about cruise ship cabins is whether or not crew members sleep onboard. Of course they sleep onboard! Where else would they go while in the middle of the ocean?

There are specific areas onboard reserved just for crew members, including crew cabins, a crew buffet, crew gym, and crew bar. These spaces are usually on the bottom decks of the ship.

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

Crew cabins are not designed in the same way as guest cabins. They are much smaller and many crew members share a room. Guests on a Royal Caribbean cruise cannot access crew areas, including the cabins.

Royal Caribbean Group is committed to delivering unforgettable vacations responsibly, and 2022 marked a milestone moment in the company's advancement of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts. 

On April 20, Royal Caribbean Group released their 15th annual Seastainability Report, which provides an in-depth update on the the company's corporate responsibility strategy and performance across their three fully owned brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. 

“As we advance on our sustainability journey, our strategic priorities remain rooted in creating business value and uplifting our employees, guests and the communities we visit,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.

“Through collaboration and innovation, we continue to make great strides on our commitment of delivering great vacation experiences responsibly.”  

Highlights from the report

The annual report summarizes the targets and strategies used by Royal Caribbean Group to work towards their progress of reducing emissions, promoting the safety and wellbeing of its guests and employees, including its commitments to sustainable tourism, protecting the oceans it sails, and inspiring and empowering the communities it visits. 

New short-term target for the reduction of carbon intensity

To aid in Royal Caribbean Group's goal of Destination New Zero, or the company's vision for zero net emissions by 2025, they set a short-term target to reduce their carbon intensity by double digits by 2025 compared to 2019. 

Related: Royal Caribbean Group announces pledge to get to net zero emissions by 2050

New partnership

They signed a new partnership agreement with the Mærsk McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping in Copenhagen, Denmark to help develop zero carbon technologies and solutions for the maritime industry. 

Diesel pilot

The first renewable diesel pilot in the United States was completed on Navigator of the Seas. 

New net-zero cruise terminal

The world's first-ever net-zero cruise terminal was opened in Galveston, Texas. This extends Royal Caribbean Group's efforts from their ships to their shoreside operations, too.

The $125 million, 161,334-square-foot terminal can accommodate up to 630,000 guests per year!

Related: What you should know about cruising from Galveston instead of Florida

New diversity council

They created a new Executive Diversity Council to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This was completed one year ahead of schedule!  

Gender pay equity

Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the United States shoreside gender pay equity analysis, which shows that 99.98% of women employees are equally compensated compared to their male employees. 

New kickstarter program

They launched the Royal Caribbean Kickstarter Program to support tourism related  entrepreneurs in The Bahamas through trainings and seed-funding. 

Increased number of sustainable tours

Royal Caribbean Group now offers more than 3,500 sustainable tours certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) around the world. 

Food sourcing

The company is on track to meet their goal of sourcing 90% of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified wild-caught seafood and 75% Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified farm-raised seafood.

Their 2022 progress revealed that 83% of their wild-caught seafood was MSC certified, while 75% of their farm-raised seafood was ASC certified. 

World Wildlife Fund

In 2022, Royal Caribbean Group renewed their partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and committed an additional $5 million to preserve ocean health. This partnership originally began in 2016. 

What are the goals of their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts?

The twenty-two goals are broken up into eleven different categories and have a status of "early stages," "on track," or "complete." 

Emissions reduction

• Achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050: early stages
• Reduce carbon intensity by double digits from 2019 numbers by 2025: on track
• Net-zero cruise ship by 2035: early stages

Water and wastewater management

• Increase or maintain 90% potable water production, as well as reduce the potable water bunkering in vulnerable areas by 2025: on track
• 100% of fleet equipped with Advanced Wastewater Purification systems by 2025: on track
• 100% of fleet equipped with IMO and USCG Certified Systems for ballast water by 2025: on track 

Waste management

• Reduced the solid waste offloaded to landfill by 90% compared to the 2007 baseline: completed ahead of schedule 

Circular economy

• Reduce 100% of single-use plastic by 2025: on track

Sustainable sourcing 

• 100% cage-free eggs for global operations by 2025: on track
• 100% of chicken for U.S. ship operations from Global Animal Partnership Certified suppliers by 2025: on track 
• 100% gestation-crate-free pork for global operations by 2025: on track
• 90% Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified wild-caught seafood and 75% Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified farm-raised seafood by 2025: on track
• Obtain MSC and ASC chain of custody certification for all ships by 2023: on track 

Destination stewardship and community development

• Advance destination stewardship and community development through partnerships, initiatives, and responsible practices by 2025: early stages

Responsible tourism

• 60% certification of RCG global tours to GSTC standards by 2026: on track
• Through the implementation of "Blue Green Promise," support sustainable and resilient ocean communities, employee engagement, and volunteering by 2024: early stages

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Formed an Executive Diversity Council that is chaired by the CEO in 2022: complete ahead of schedule
• Annually review gender pay equity for all global employees by 2024: on track
• Implement program to create an inclusive and diverse supply chain by 2024: early stages

Human rights

• Publish updated human rights policy and conduct human rights impact assessments by 2025: on track 

Enterprise risk management

• Integrate ESG risks into enterprise risk management system by 2023: early stages 

Transparency 

• Increase auditability of ESG data and improve climate-related disclosure by 2026: on track

Awards and recognition

The report also outlines various awards and recognition that Royal Caribbean Group received.  

First, they were named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the eighth year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute. 

They were also recognized on the 2022 Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion list by Disability:In, as well as the American Association of People with Disabilities. 

Third, the company ranked #11 in Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America by Healthiest Employers, and, finally, they were awarded one of the 2022 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor. 

When you need to get a hold of Royal Caribbean because you have a question or concern, knowing which way will get you an answer as fast as possible is important.

It's very common for people booked on a cruise to have an issue they want to raise with Royal Caribbean. Whether it's something simple like re-pricing a drink package, or altering the reservation, there seems to be a lot questions about where to turn first.

Royal Caribbean has many departments and means to get in contact with them, but they aren't all created equally. While I love cruising with Royal Caribbean, I've learned there are better ways to get assistance with an issue than others.

Knowing where to turn to when you have a nagging problem or time-sensitive issue can be frustrating if you aren't getting a response in a timely manner.

For anyone looking to get in touch with Royal Caribbean's customer service department, here are the best (and not so great) ways to get it done.

Call

Picking up the phone to contact Royal Caribbean customer service is probably the most obvious method, but it has its pros and cons.

Phone agents are available during the day time, but it's not a 24 hour operation, so if you try to call after hours, you'll have to wait until the next day.

Moreover, hold times on the phone can vary greatly. Sometimes there's barely a wait, while other times hold times can be over an hour.  This is especially true when there is something out of the ordinary occurring, such as a new cruise booking release, weather impact to existing cruises, etc.

Certainly a phone call is quite simple, but it's a bit of a guessing game how long you will have to wait until you get a hold of someone. Plus, Royal Caribbean has different phone numbers for reservations, excursions, groups, and more.  So you if you don't call the right department first, it may be more wasted time.

Still, calling Royal Caribbean on the phone is a good starting point.

The general Royal Caribbean customer service phone number is 1 (800) 256-6649.

If you are booking a new reservation, or need to modify a reservation you made directly with the cruise line, call 1 (866) 562-7625.

If you're going on a cruise the same day you're calling, the phone number is 1 (800) 256-6649 or (305) 539-4107 (Int'l)

If you already went on your cruise and have a question, you can call Post Cruise Assistance at 1 (800) 256-6649.

Social media

One of the best ways to get your concern routed efficiently is to contact Royal Caribbean on social media.

Royal Caribbean's Twitter and Facebook pages are quite responsive with getting you pointed in the right direction.

They may not directly address your concern, but often they inform whom to contact.  If your question is fairly rudimentary, they can also answer questions for you.

Contacting Royal Caribbean's social media for your questions is actually one of the best cruise hacks.

Use your travel agent

One of the best reasons to use a good travel agent is to get answers to tough questions or problems you run into with the cruise line.

Billing discrepancies, changes to your sailings, policy updates and more are usually in any good travel agent's wheel house.

First and foremost, the travel agent is the one that may need to sit on hold for an extended period of time to get the right answer.  Let them do it, while freeing you up to do something else.

Plus, travel agents have resources guests do not, including more leeway with certain policies.  While no travel agent can guarantee they can solve any problem, I'm constantly amazed how some agents are able to "bend" or get exemptions to Royal Caribbean policies, thanks in part to their years of experience and relationships with the cruise line.

When I have a question or problem, the first person I turn to is my travel agent for help and it saves me so much time.

Crown and Anchor phone number

Did you know Royal Caribbean has a dedicated phone number exclusively for Crown and Anchor members?

If you've cruised at least once with Royal Caribbean, you're eligible to use this phone number and I've found on average the hold times to be less for this line.

It's a benefit you receive as a loyal cruiser, so you may as well take advantage of it before trying the main phone numbers.

The Crown and Anchor phone number is 1 (800) 526-9723.

Email the CEO

This customer service hack is becoming more well-known as a way to get help when you have a concern, and that's to email Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.

It's quite clear his (public) email is monitored by a team of employees, so you probably aren't reaching Mr. Bayley.  However, the results speak for themselves.

Time and time again, I see anecdotal evidence from Royal Caribbean Blog readers who reach out to Mr. Bayley via email and get a prompt response. This is especially true for complicated issues related to a personal experience on a ship.

The other methods of contacting Royal Caribbean customer support will be sufficient for most issues, but for escalating a problem, emailing the CEO might work for you.

Michael Bayley's email is [email protected].

Don't email

In my opinion, don't both emailing Royal Caribbean with a problem, change, or concern.

I hear from so many cruisers who complain they emailed the cruise line to get an answer and haven't heard back, and that tells me emailing is not as efficient as the other ways outlined in this article.

Royal Caribbean has various email addresses it provides for many different facets of the business, as well as regions of the world:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]

Contacting Royal Caribbean customer service via your travel agent or social media is a much better idea.

Don't post on forums

If there's one waste of time in trying to get customer service, it's posting a lengthy message about your problem with the cruise line on a forum or message board.

Whether you try posting your problem that you want rectified on our Royal Caribbean message boards, or a Facebook group, or some other unofficial and unrelated website, you won't get a response from the cruise line.

Some people do this because they believe Royal Caribbean monitors certain sites. While this may be true, that doesn't mean they reach out to customers on unofficial sites to help them with their problem.

If you want to vent, that's fine, but if you want a response, go directly to the cruise line and not a forum post.