Royal Caribbean Blog

Experienced cruisers know that the port you choose to sail out of has a big impact on your embarkation day experience. 

After experiencing the thrill of setting sail from the bustling large ports of Port Canaveral and Miami on my first two cruising adventures, I decided it was time to explore a new Florida port. 

For my third cruise, I embarked on a 5-night Radiance of the Seas sailing, departing from the smaller, more intimate port in downtown Tampa.

If you’re considering sailing from a smaller cruise port like I did, here’s what you can expect from embarkation day out of Tampa, Florida. 

I didn’t prepare as carefully as I usually do for embarkation day

While picking an earlier check-in time saves you from waiting in line, I didn’t make it a priority for this cruise.

My friend and I checked in on the app only about a week before the cruise, so we had to select a later check-in time in between 12:00 P.M. and 12:30 P.M. 

On previous cruises, I have arrived a little earlier, but I was glad I got the chance to experience the later time block on embarkation day. 

Additionally, my friend decided to fly into Tampa to meet me the very morning of the cruise: arriving at about 8:00 A.M.

Usually, we recommend flying in the night before your cruise, to ensure that nothing goes wrong and you can still make it onto the cruise ship in time.

However, my friend had no issues, and we still had several hours to spare before our cruise.

My friend and I ordered an Uber to arrive at the port around 12:00 P.M. 

Despite our looser planning, all went well, and we arrived right on time! 

When we arrived at the port, finding the terminal was complicated

Located in downtown Tampa, right next to the aquarium, this port was filled with cargo ships and other cruise ships. 

Whereas my cruises out of Port Canaveral and Miami had a much more international presence, it seemed like the Tampa port attracted a lot of native Floridians. 

Once I was onboard, almost everyone I talked to seemed to come from somewhere in Florida.

When I first arrived, I thought it looked crowded for such a small port. Little did I know that would become the theme of the day.

Our Uber driver had to circle around a couple terminals to find the correct one. While we waited in the car, we completed the mandatory safety briefing on the app so we wouldn't have to do it once we got onboard. 

At the Tampa port, Royal Caribbean uses both terminals 1 and 3, depending on which ships are in port. Since Grandeur of the Seas was embarking on the same day, Radiance of the Seas was located further down at Terminal 3.

It was hard to navigate through—we had to go around aquarium parking and other terminal entrances—but thankfully, security guards stood at several locations to give us directions.

Finally, our Uber driver was able to pull into the port and drop us off at the entrance. 

Immediately, a porter stopped us and took our bags. This was one benefit of being at a smaller terminal: we were able to find a porter and hand off our bags right out of the car’s trunk!

However, the experience became a lot harder from there.

We had to wait in line for an hour before we could even enter the terminal

We got in line to go up the stairs or escalator to enter the terminal. However, as soon as we got in line, we saw that the stairs and escalator were closed off, and staff were preventing people from walking up. They said that it was so crowded inside the terminal that we had to wait down the stairs to prevent it from getting congested.

After about 10 minutes, staff opened up the escalator and allowed us to walk up. However, the lines only grew longer from there.

The lines stretched out past the entrance onto the outdoor level of the terminal.

We had to walk around the building to even get in line, and the lines only grew longer from there.

We stood in the heat for quite some time, waiting for the line to even move forward into the shade.

I found myself regretting not packing my sunglasses in my carry-on. As time went on, it became more of an issue of survival, and I wished I had packed more water and snacks.

As Florida tends to be in the middle of the day, it became very hot and sunny.

I started to worry that some people would start to pass out. If I was feeling overheated, how much worse would the elderly and children feel?

I could hear babies crying behind me in line, as the line started to stretch on even longer and wrap around the outside of the terminal.

However, one positive aspect of sailing out of this port is that we had a beautiful view of downtown Tampa, the water, and the palm trees as we waited. 

Since Radiance of the Seas is the smallest ship I've sailed on so far—only carrying 2,300 passengers—I was surprised that such a small ship would have longer lines than I’m used to. 

As we surveyed what looked like hundreds of people in line with us, I heard someone behind me say: “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

It was an hour before we even made it inside the terminal and into the blessed relief of shade and A.C. 

Once we made it inside the terminal, the process went much faster 

After that, however, things went smoothly: staff checked our passports and SetSail Passes before we got into a fast-moving line through security. 

The security there told us that it was a very hectic day, but I still found myself wondering why such a small ship would have so many people in line. 

That seems to be the disadvantage of sailing out of a smaller port: there is not a lot of space for people to wait, especially indoors. 

After that, a crew member checked our passports and SetSail Passes again, and we entered one last checkpoint where a crew member examined our SetSail Passes.

It was easy sailing after that last checkpoint: we just had to exit the terminal, walk up the gangway onto the boat, and find our muster station.

This part held most of the ease I was expecting from embarking on a smaller boat. It was quick and easy to enter the ship and find our muster station. We received a short safety briefing from the crew member at our station, made sure that we had already completed the safety lessons on the app, and we were free to go.

After arriving at the terminal at 12:00 P.M., we finally finished checking in at 1:30 P.M. It was the longest embarkation process I’ve experienced so far. 

But now that the process was completed, my friend and I could explore the ship and head up for lunch at the Windjammer.

We were ready for the adventure to begin! 

Everyone wants to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise, including getting a deal on their drinks.

A Royal Caribbean drink package is expensive, so it's natural to want to limit how much you spend. While drink packages offer the convenience of unlimited beverages during your entire cruise, the upfront cost gives some people pause.

Unfortunately, some people think they can "beat the system" and devise ways to cheat Royal Caribbean's drink package. It's one of those they want their cake and eat it too situations, where the prices and rules regulating the drink packages compel some to look for ways around it.

Trying to cheat the package can get you in serious trouble with the cruise line, and you risk various penalties. 

We've heard all the excuses why circumventing the rules is okay to do: it's expensive, requirements for all adults to buy it if one does, a need to buy it for the entire sailing, and more. The reality is it's Royal Caribbean's decision on what the rules are, and it's not negotiable.

I don't recommend trying any means of cheating Royal Caribbean, and I'm only sharing these methods as a warning of what not to do because you can get in serious trouble.  Consider yourself warned.

Share drink benefits

The oldest and most common way people cheat the drink package is to buy the drink package and then order drinks for others who don't have the package.

Royal Caribbean is quite clear that the drink package benefits are only for the person that buys them, but some people still do this.

If you're caught sharing drinks with someone who doesn't have the same drink package as you, you risk having your entire drink package purchase cancelled without a refund.

Remember, bartenders have seen it all and you're far from the first person to sneak drinks to someone else. Moreover, there are cameras all around the ship.  So the chances of being caught is quite high.

Sneak booze onboard

There are so many videos on TikTok showing how to sneak alcohol onboard your ship as a way to save money and avoid buying a drink package completely.

Royal Caribbean prohibits you from bringing beer or liquor onboard at all. It's one of the prohibited items not allowed.

TikTok is full of cruise hacks to show anyone how to smuggle booze onboard.

The most common strategy is to fill bottles of mouthwash or shampoo to conceal it. Another way is to put the booze in a flask and hide it on your body as you embark the ship.

Other crazy ideas include liquid-holding bras, fake beer bellies, umbrella or binocular flasks.

Many of these ideas are tedious to set up, cumbersome to execute, and could you get in serious trouble with the cruise line.

Easy hacks to save money on a drink package

Trying to get around Royal Caribbean's rules is a recipe for ruining your vacation.

However, there are some legal ways to "cheat" the Royal Caribbean drink package using a few creative strategies.

Bring your own wine

You're allowed to bring one bottle of wine (or champagne) per adult on embarkation day, and this can save you a lot of money.

Bringing your own wine means you can pay retail price for your wine, instead of the prices the cruise line sells them for onboard. Plus, you can bring your favorite brand of wine, rather than being limited to what is on your ship.

Royal Caribbean supposedly charges a corkage fee to open a bottle of wine ($15 corkage fee per bottle), but in my experience it is rarely enforced.

Nonetheless, bringing your own bottles of wine can save a lot of money if all you're interested in is wine.

Book your drink package early and reprice

Did you know when you buy a drink package before the cruise, you can always take advantage of a lower price later?

The tried-and-true strategy for getting the lowest price for a Royal Caribbean drink package is to keep checking for lower prices up until embarkation day.

Royal Caribbean runs drink package sales all the time, and there's always some kind of a discount applied.  The key is to know when to buy the drink package before your cruise and periodically check for a lower price.

My advice is ignore the advertised percentage off that you see, and look at the total cost when you add it back to your cart as if you were buying it again.

If the price is lower, you can easily cancel your original purchase and then immediately re-buy it at the lower price.

Using this strategy, you can easily save hundreds of dollars.

Call Royal Caribbean to ask for a different drink package

One reason people want to cheat the Royal Caribbean drink package is because they think it's unfair that another adult in their cabin has to get the alcohol package if they get it, but there's a workaround to it.

If you try to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package on the website, you'll notice Royal Caribbean forces you to buy it for all the other adults in the same cabin.

You can call Royal Caribbean and let them know the other adult(s) in your cabin do not want the drink package, and instead, they'll allow them to buy the Royal Refreshment package, which includes just non-alcoholic beverages.

This will save a lot of money for someone who cannot or does not want the full unlimited package.

Book adults in separate rooms

If you're taking advantage of one of my favorite cruise cabin hacks and booking two or more cabins instead of putting everyone in a single cabin, be sure to assign adults in different cabins.

As an example, let's assume you have two adults and two kids and you're going to book connecting cabins because it gets you more room, separation from your kids, and an extra bathroom at a lower price than a suite.

Instead of booking the kids in one cabin and the parents in the other cabin, book one child with each parent in the room.  That way, when you go to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package, it won't force the second person to buy it because minors don't have to get a drink package!

Don't worry who's technically booked in which cabin. Royal Caribbean doesn't care which cabin you actually stay in, just that you're booked.

Look for free drinks around the ship

Another strategy is to rely on some of the free drinks you can get around your cruise ship.

Throughout your cruise, there will be different events held where you could get free alcoholic beverages.

Every cruise is different, but there are a few events common to almost every Royal Caribbean sailing:

• Art auctions have free champagne
• Top Tier events for Crown and Anchor Society members have complimentary beverages
• Liquor tasting events
• Extra cost brunch events that include champagne

This hack works best for someone that wants to be more opportunistic in how they save money and get free drinks.

Tip the bartenders

I think you should always tip waiters and bartenders for good service, but there's an added possible benefit to this gesture.

Some bartenders might give you a free drink after you tip them. Never expect a free drink as a result of offering them gratuity, but it has been known to happen.

It works best when you get to know a particular bartender or waiter and order drinks from them throughout your cruise. 

I would not expect to get many free drinks this way, and giving them a tip is about rewarding their service.  Make sure you're clear on that this isn't a quid pro quo situation.

Drink in ports of call

Odds are cocktails and beers are going to be cheaper on land in the ports of call you visit than on the ship.

If you limit your onboard consumption and spend more on drinks on land, your money will go further.

There's usually a myriad of bars near the port where your cruise ship docks, and plenty more in the surrounding area. There are beach bars, restaurants, and even carts selling drinks that could be significantly cheaper than what you'll find on the ship.

Moreover, you'll have a wider selection of drinks. This is especially important to beer drinkers who covet having access to different brands or beer types.

Order a bottle of liquor to your cabin

Royal Caribbean sells a limited selection of liquor that you can have delivered to your cabin.

There's only a few brands, and it comes in a small quantity meant to use for mixing with a soft drink, but this could be just what you want in lieu of a drink package.

If you go to the Royal Caribbean Gifts and Gear website, you'll find a few liquors to buy (as well as wine and beer brands):

• Bombay Sapphire
• Bacardi Gold
• Absolut Vodka

You'll get a 375 ml. bottle delivered to your stateroom, along with some cans of soda to mix with it.

Gamble enough to get free drinks in the casino

An interesting strategy to get free drinks on your cruise instead of buying a drink package is to spend that money in the casino.

Royal Caribbean has a customer loyalty program specifically for the casino, where if you accrue 2,500 points or more in the casino, you'll move to the Prime level and be able to get unlimited free drinks in Casino Royale for an entire year.

Read more: I gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casino to get free drinks and a cruise

You get points depending on how much you wager gambling. There isn't an exact calculation, but the more you wager, the more points you earn.  Moreover, you'll earn points faster playing slot machines than table games because slots can be more easily tracked.

Gambling responsibly is more important than free drinks, but if you were going to spend time in the casino anyway, this could be a way to double down on your casino habit and get free drinks as well.

If you're ready to dine in elegance and style, Royal Caribbean has the perfect new restaurant for you.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is set to debut in early 2024, and among the many new concepts is a high-end supper club.

The Empire Supper Club was announced months ago, but reservations were not available.  Today, Royal Caribbean opened up reservations to the general public.

Prices across multiple Icon of the Seas sailings list it at $200 per person. Bookings are available immediately from the Cruise Planner website.

If you have the Unlimited Dining Package, you can pay an additional charge of $130 to eat at the restaurant.

Deluxe Beverage Packages, Crown and Anchor coupons or Star Class guests, can enjoy this experience at the standard cover price.

It's arguably Royal Caribbean's most elegant restaurant to date, and will serve multiple courses while music is played. The cruise line says you can expect an evening of, "evening of glitz and glamour" with your meal.

Step into the sophisticated style of this intimate space and embark on an eight-course journey. Traditional American fare like oysters Rockefeller and modern renditions like Wagyu New York strip topped with shaved fresh truffle transcend eras and expectations. Each musical number and every libation is carefully curated and perfectly paired to complement each course, from upbeat "Beyond the Sea" to a bittersweet Campari spritz. 

The combination of live music with the jazz band, along with the premium menu is what's going to distinguish this restaurant from other specialty restaurants.

Tony Abou-Ganim has worked with James Beard Award-winning chefs, Bellagio and more to come up with the meals and cocktails.

It's an intimate dinner experience, where table sizes are limited to parties of 2 to 4. If your party is larger than 4 people, you'll be seated at separate tables.

What's included with Empire Supper Club

For the price, you might be curious what you get.

Each meal is an eight-course experience, where you'll enjoy a cocktail paired with the music being played by the jazz band. Non-alcoholic options are available upon request.

There will be a three-piece band playing to provide entertainment.

There will be appetizers such as oysters Rockefeller deliciously dressed with chorizo béarnaise, sundried Roma tomatoes and micro basil.

Royal Caribbean's lists an entree as Wagyu New York strip, topped with fresh truffle and coupled with fondant potatoes, sautéed morels and green peppercorn sauce.

When you get to dessert, you can look forward to the Chocolate Beehive, comprised of a trio of ganache layers, salted caramel toffee and mango sauce.

Gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian options available.

Special rules for the Empire Supper Club

There's also a set of expectations if you choose to dine at the Empire Supper Club, which are important to consider before booking.

Timing

Doors open 10 minutes prior to the start of the meal, and the cruise line implores guests to be on time to ensure the programming is set correctly.

Royal Caribbean says the meal will last 2-3 hours, and to plan your evening accordingly.  In my opinion, that means don't ask for a quick meal to make a show.

Dress Code

Formal wear is required to dine at Empire Supper Club.

Suggested attire include suit jackets, slacks, cocktail dresses, formal pantsuits, and formal jumpsuits.

An array of suit jacket sizes will be available for guests who may need to borrow one.

Age restrictions

There is no age limit or restriction to dine at Empire Supper Club, but Royal Caribbean says the experience is designed for adults.

Pricing remains the same for guests opting for non-alcoholic beverages.

A different dining experience, and a different price

If you're quick to compare the price of the Empire Supper Club to other Royal Caribbean specialty restaurants, the cruise line would tell you that this is unlike anything else offered.

The price of $200 per person is more than double many other specialty dining venues on Icon of the Seas, but those restaurants are not in the same league as Empire Supper Club.

The combination of premium food, paired cocktails, and live music, put Empire Supper Club in a different category of dining. It's intimate nature, dress code requirements, and inflexibility with changes to the menu are indications that this is not just another dining experience.

Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, said this restaurant is something completely different from what we may have seen in the past, "Empire Supper Club is what I would say is the most elevated dining experience we've created at Royal Caribbean."

He referred to it as a, "full immersive dining experience".

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

Sometimes picking a cruise ship to sail on can feel like picking your favorite child: you don't have one, but sometimes you prefer one over the other for different reasons.

It can be daunting to choose between different cruise ships for a vacation, and even I can sometimes find myself second guessing the decision.

I recently sailed on one of Royal Caribbean's smallest cruise ships for a few important reasons, and it provided me an affordable cruise to the places I wanted to visit, even if it did not have all the bells and whistles of other ships.

Radiance of the Seas is the oldest Radiance Class cruise ship, having launched on June 15, 2000.  Cruise ships that reach the 20 year plateau are becoming far more commonplace than it used to be, so age is not the factor it used to be in evaluating how good a cruise ship is.

Read more: Why you can't trust online reviews of cruise ships

Radiance is also on the small end of Royal Caribbean's fleet.  She has a capacity of 2,501 guests and a length of 961 feet.  Compared to new cruise ships, like Wonder of the Seas, she is in a different category of cruise ship layout and feel.

Ultimately, I picked Radiance of the Seas because it was the right cruise ship for what I wanted: an inexpensive getaway cruise to ports of call in Mexico from a convenient homeport.

Here's why my cruise on Radiance of the Seas ended up being a great choice.

Inexpensive last-minute fare

It seems like a last-minute cruise deal is getting harder and harder to find because of rising cruise prices.  Royal Caribbean is seeing exceptional demand, and that means there's less incentive to offer a lower price.

I booked this cruise exactly 31 days before embarkation, and got a Category 4D balcony stateroom for $1,390.79 (including gratuities), plus $50 onboard credit.  

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

This was a 5-night cruise that visited two ports of call in Mexico, Costa Maya and Cozumel.

I could have gone with a category 2V inside cabin instead for $1,063.79  (including gratuities), plus $50 onboard credit.  I decided the extra $300 was worth having a balcony and more space.

Read more: 8 reasons a balcony cabin is worth it to book on a cruise

I didn't set any records for the lowest cruise fare ever, but considering I booked the cruise just a month before sailing, I think it's a pretty good price for a last-minute cruise in 2023.

At the time of booking, there were very few options that worked for the timeframe I wanted, but more important, I was going to pay more for them too.

Cruises from other ports around Florida had higher prices and worse cabin choices.

My cabin had lots of space, and the private balcony was so nice to have on the two sea days we had.

I was in cabin 8516, located near the forward elevator bank. There were no noise issues to contend with, and it was very convenient to have an elevator so close by.

Not only does a balcony cabin get natural light from the sliding glass door, but I was able to spend time on my balcony with the fresh air or a view from in my room if it got too hot.

Convenient homeport

Radiance of the Seas is spending the winter cruise season in Tampa, Florida, and it's one of my favorite ports to sail from because of how easy it is.

Tampa does not get the bigger cruise ships that you'll find in South Florida or even across the state in Port Canaveral, but it's such an easy process to cruise from there.

Besides the fact I can make the drive in a little over an hour from my house, the port is set up with a valet parking option that costs just $15 more than parking in the cruise terminal garage. 

The terminal itself is a no-frills embarkation experience, and I've always found it to be quick and easy. 

I arrived for my noon check-in time (which I picked from the Royal Caribbean app) and there were no lines at all to contend with. All they had to do was check paperwork and send me on my way.

While the embarkation process is just as easy at other Florida homeports thanks to Royal Caribbean's utilization of its app to speed up the process, the folks working in the cruise terminal have done their best to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Lots of dining choices

Given how old Radiance of the Seas is, I was surprised how many dining choices it has.

There are four different specialty restaurants on Radiance of the Seas, plus the Chef's Table.

• Chops Grille
• Giovanni's Table
• Izumi
• Samba Grill

When you're choosing between a small or big cruise ship, often the variety of dining choices is one consideration as big ships are known for having more.  

However, with four specialty restaurants in addition to the complimentary Windjammer and Main Dining Room, I was impressed by the variety.

Whether you decided to eat at any of the specialty restaurants or not, it's nice how many options there are on a ship of Radiance of the Seas' age and size.

Ports in Mexico

A major reason I wanted to go on Radiance of the Seas was for the opportunity to sail to Mexico.

Anecdotally, it seems like there are far less cruises going to Mexico than the Eastern Caribbean. Or at least, I keep subconsciously choosing Eastern Caribbean routes.

I wanted a cruise that went to the Western Caribbean so I could review my two favorite beach shore excursions: Maya Chan and Paradise Beach.

Plus, I really enjoy cruises that go to Mexico because of the food.

At home, I eat plenty of Mexican food, but there's nothing like getting the real thing in Mexico. I enjoy the beautiful scenery there as well, but Mexico's food is my favorite among any Caribbean port.

An additional benefit to Radiance of the Seas was the amount of time we had in port.

In both Costa Maya and Cozumel, we were docked for the full day.  As an example, in Costa Maya we were in port from 8am to 5pm, whereas Mariner of the Seas came in on the same day, but did not arrive until 11am.  They did stay until 7pm, but in my experience so many businesses close up once you get to around 5pm.

Being that Radiance of the Seas was closer to Tampa, our distance was shorter than a cruise from Eastern Florida, and I loved having a full day in each port of call.

Fastest internet at sea

If having fast internet on a cruise ship is important to you, Radiance of the Seas is a great choice.

Royal Caribbean's investment in Starlink internet service has been a game changer, especially now that they seemed to have optimized their networking to better handle the traffic.

I was first blown away by how well Starlink worked when I was on Serenade of the Seas last month, which is another Radiance Class ship.

On Radiance of the Seas, the internet was almost as good as Serenade, but so much better than just a few months ago when I was on other, larger ships.

As someone that relies on the internet heavily, it was so nice to have a reliable connection for the entire cruise.

The Bahamas and Caribbean are two of the most popular year-round cruising destinations. 

It can be hard to decide between the two, as both promise pristine beaches with turquoise waters and white sand. 

Depending on the itinerary you choose, you might be able to visit both. Some 7-night Caribbean cruises also call at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas. 

Here's what you should know about Caribbean vs. Bahamas cruises to help you determine which you will like better. 

Caribbean cruises tend to visit more ports of call

Compared to The Bahamas, the Caribbean has more ports to visit and is divided into three different regions: Eastern, Western, and Southern. You can take three Caribbean cruises and visit new and exciting destinations each time! 

It's not uncommon for ships to sometimes include a stop in The Bahamas on these longer itineraries.

Icon of the Seas, for instance, is scheduled to visit Perfect Day at CocoCay on every Eastern and Western Caribbean cruise between January 2024 and April 2026. 

Possible ports of call in the Eastern Caribbean include San Juan, Puerto Rico; La Romana, Dominican Republic; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

Western Caribbean cruises sail to Mexico, Jamaica, Belize, Grand Cayman, and Honduras. 

Related: Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port

The Southern Caribbean is the furthest from the United States, so if you sail from Florida, you should expect the itinerary to be at least eight nights. San Juan is a popular embarkation port for more port-intensive Southern Caribbean cruises as well. 

Destinations here include the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao), as well as St. John's, Antigua; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Castries, St. Lucia; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Bridgetown, Barbados.  

The majority of Caribbean cruises tend to be around a week since the islands are located further than The Bahamas. Did you know that Nassau is less than 190 miles away from Miami?

That being said, it's possible to find sailings that are longer and shorter! If you find one that's less than a week, it will usually only visit one or two ports of call, whereas those that are around a week visit anywhere from three to four. 

The Bahamas are great for a quick getaway

Since The Bahamas are located just off the coast of Florida, you will find numerous 3- and 4-night itineraries, making this region a great escape for a quick getaway.  

Historically, Royal Caribbean has deployed older ships for these short sailings. This is changing with Utopia of the Seas, as this brand-new ship is advertised as "The World's Biggest Weekend" and won't start her inaugural season with longer cruises to the Caribbean. 

Related: Best things to do in Nassau on a cruise

While The Bahamas are an archipelago comprised of over 700 islands, most sailings visit the same few. Whether it is a 3- or 4-night cruise from Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami, your itinerary will likely visit Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Longer sailings to The Bahamas depart from more northern ports like Baltimore and Cape Bayonne in New Jersey. Even so, the only major difference is the addition of a stop in Port Canaveral, rather than another island in The Bahamas, as well as more sea days. 

Occasionally, you may find a cruise that stops in Bimini or Grand Bahama Island. These sailings, however, tend to be on older ships, such as those within Royal Caribbean's Vision Class. 

The overall cost of a cruise to The Bahamas is less

When comparing prices, the advertised rate for a shorter cruise to The Bahamas will be less than a 7-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean. 

Additionally, you won't have to pay as much in add-ons, either. Typically, Royal Caribbean Wi-Fi packages are around $20 on the Cruise Planner. On a 4-night cruise, that would add up to be around $80, whereas you could spend as much as $140 on a 7-night sailing. 

When browsing available sailings in July 2024, a 4-night cruise to The Bahamas onboard Freedom of the Seas starts at $521 per person for an interior cabin.

Freedom is also scheduled to go on a 6-night Western Caribbean cruise the same month, but pricing starts at $858 per person. This is roughly a $340 difference for two extra nights onboard!

Related: Bahamas cruise guide

You'll also pay less in gratuities. As of November 11, 2023, the automatic service gratuity for those in standard staterooms (i.e., interior, ocean view, balcony, and Junior Suites) is $18.00 per person, per day. Guests in suites are subject to higher rates, or $20.50 per person, per day. 

For a 4-night cruise in a balcony, you'll pay $72 per person, whereas those on a 7-night cruise will pay $54 more per person, or $126 each. 

The Caribbean has a greater variety of shore excursions

The Bahamas is primarily known for its beautiful beaches, and while that doesn't mean you cannot find exciting excursions, the Caribbean has a greater variety of options that aren't beach-based. 

While visiting Jamaica, for instance, you can either go zip-lining or visit the famous Dunn's River Falls. On the same cruise, you can visit ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico or attend a salsa making class. If you want to relax, both ports have beaches nearby as well. 

Even ports in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean have some pretty unique options. While visiting Curaçao, for instance, I opted to take a tour of the island and got to visit the Hato Caves, The Curaçao Museum, and the liqueur distillery at Landhuis Chobolobo. 

In St. Maarten, you can visit Pelican Peak and ride a 1,500-foot zip line or take an ATV/jeep tour of the island. 

Since the Caribbean is made up of different countries, you will have the option to experience different local cultures, too. 

Related: I've been on 12 Caribbean cruises, and I see passengers making the same 14 mistakes. Here's how to avoid them

All cruises to The Bahamas depart from the East Coast, whereas some Western Caribbean sailings depart from Texas and Louisiana

There's no denying that airfare can be expensive. A family of four can easily spend over $1,000 in pre-cruise transportation when flying from their home state. 

When planning a Caribbean cruise, many people automatically think that they have to sail from Florida. Royal Caribbean, however, also offers voyages from Galveston, Texas and New Orleans, Louisiana. 

If you live in Dallas, you're only 4.5 hours from the port in Galveston, meaning you won't have to worry about booking pre- or post-cruise flights. 

Those coming from the West Coast might find also more affordable flight options since Houston is not as far as Florida. Either way, a shorter flight is always a win! 

Your best bet for warm weather during the winter is the Caribbean

During the winter months, The Bahamas are subject to the occasional cold front. In January, the average high is around 79 degrees, while the average low drops to 64.

I visited Perfect Day at CocoCay twice in January 2023, and while the second visit was a tad warmer, I was rather chilly both times considering I was in The Bahamas! In fact, it was too cold to get into the ocean during the first visit. 

Some of the best months to visit The Bahamas are November, late April, or early May. Not only do all of these months fall outside of the Atlantic hurricane season, but they're also less likely to experience a cold front. 

Plus, since these months fall outside of the peak season, you will find lower cruise fares!

Since the Caribbean is further south, it stays warm all year. During the months of December, January, and February, they will be less hot and humid than during the summer, when islands can see daily highs exceeding 90 degrees!

Related: When is the best time to go on a cruise?

I recently stayed in windowless interior cabins onboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Celebration. 

While Carnival Celebration is the newer ship of the two, Symphony of the Seas is the larger one, measuring over 44,000 gross registered tons more. As of November 2023, she is the second-largest cruise ship at sea. 

I traveled alone on both cruises, meaning that I had to pay the dreaded single supplement fee. My cruise fare included gratuities on Symphony of the Seas in January totaled $1,400. I paid $500 more, or $1,900, for my 7-night sailing onboard Carnival Celebration in mid-October.

In terms of square footage, my cabin onboard Carnival Celebration was nine square feet larger than my room on Symphony of the Seas, with the latter measuring 149 square feet. However, despite the additional square footage, I felt like the space in my room on Symphony was better utilized. 

Not only did I have a small dresser with drawers to store my clothing in addition to two closets, but there also was a nicely sized sofa. There was no other seating option in my stateroom on Celebration other than a small stool that could be tucked underneath the vanity. 

Regardless, I was impressed by the amount of storage space in both staterooms. Due to the drawers, however, I felt I was able to keep my belongings more organized in my inside cabin on Symphony. 

Additionally, the placement of the closets maximized the amount of available floor space. Despite this cabin being smaller, it felt larger than my room on Carnival Celebration! 

The vanities were equipped with more than enough outlets and USB ports to charge my devices. Celebration's stateroom had three American outlets and four USB ports, while Symphony's vanity area had three American outlets, two USB ports, and a single European outlet. 

Since there was a small dresser, the vanity space in my stateroom on Carnival Celebration was larger. I also liked the wide shelves attached to the side of the closet, as the single shelf above the desk on Symphony of the Seas was rather narrow.

I was only able to store sunglasses and other small miscellaneous items there. 

The nightstands beside the bed on my Carnival cruise were small, metal tray-like pieces of furniture, each with a single USB port above them. My cabin on Symphony also had two nightstands; however, they were wooden, with only one of them having a USB port close by. 

One of the largest drawbacks was that the stateroom's telephone was placed on one nightstand, rendering it pretty useless. I appreciated how the telephone in my cabin on Celebration was attached to the wall. Of course, this meant that if someone wanted to call me, I would not be able to answer it from bed. 

This might be controversial, but I preferred the bathroom in my Carnival cabin. While there was less floor space than the ensuite onboard Symphony of the Seas, I found the shower to be larger and appreciated how it was not rounded. Plus, the counter was wider, albeit not as long. 

Both, however, were modern and updated. Neither had a curtain, which can be found on all classes of Carnival ships except the Excel Class, and there was enough space for all of my toiletries and cosmetics. 

Royal Caribbean's showers come equipped with a shampoo/body wash combo, while Carnival provides two different products.

Personally, I'm not a fan of any cruise line-provided products and would recommend bringing your own shampoo and body wash on any cruise that you go on. 

During my time on both ships, I found the water pressure and temperature in the shower to be more consistent onboard Carnival Celebration.

While on Symphony of the Seas, the water pressure was neither great nor awful, and I had issues with the temperature. In the mornings, I was unable to get hot water, sometimes having to wait twenty-five minutes for it to heat up. In the evenings, the water was always scalding hot. 

The television in my stateroom on Carnival Celebration was hung on a small wall directly opposite of my bed near the adjoining door, whereas the one in my cabin on Symphony of the Seas was hung on the wall above the dresser. I was also able to rotate it to see it from either the bed or sofa. 

The door connecting my stateroom to the one beside me was just one complaint I had with my room. Another large one was the exposed pullman bed that constantly jetted out from the wall, making the space feel more cramped. While there was enough space for myself in this interior stateroom, I cannot imagine trying to cram three people in it! 

As standard in the cruise industry, both rooms were outfitted with mini-fridges and safes. The mini-fridge in my cabin on Symphony of the Seas had three adjustable shelves and a single bin shelf on the mini-fridge's door. There was a single adjustable shelf in the mini-fridge on Carnival Celebration, as well as two bin shelves on the door.

They were both located near the vanity; however, it was hidden behind a door in the dresser on Symphony, whereas it was exposed on Carnival Celebration due to the lack of a dresser. I never had an issue with the functionality of either. 

Overall, I found both interior staterooms to be well-appointed and comfortable for a weeklong cruise. If, however, I was presented with a choice, I think I would choose Symphony of the Seas' cabin over Carnival's, simply because the smaller room felt larger due to the way the stateroom was designed. 

It's not too early to book a Royal Caribbean cruise for 2025 or early 2026.

Royal Caribbean has released its new 7-night Caribbean cruises for the 2025-2026 Caribbean season.

In addition to the 2025-2026 Icon of the Seas cruises already released, Royal Caribbean posted cruises on six other ships.

The new itineraries are loaded into Royal Caribbean's website and available for immediate booking. 

Here's a breakdown of what's new.

Adventure of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida and offer 6- and 8-night Caribbean cruises.  Some will go Western, while longer ones will visit the Eastern or Southern Caribbean.

Grandeur of the Seas will be based in Tampa, and offer 7-night cruises to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean.

Harmony of the Seas will sail from Galveston, Texas and offer 6, 7, and 8-night Caribbean cruises.

One change with this itinerary is you will be able to sail from Galveston and visit Perfect Day at CocoCay in addition to ports in Mexico, if you sail on the 8-night cruises.

Icon of the Seas will continue to be based from Miami, Florida and alternate between 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay and 7-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay itineraries.

Independence of the Seas will offer 7-night Caribbean cruises from Miami, Florida.

Oasis of the Seas will be based from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and offer 6 and 8-night Caribbean cruises.

Rhapsody of the Seas will split her time between Tampa and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

While in Tampa, Rhapsody will sail to the Western Caribbean. In San Juan, she will offer cruises to the Southern Caribbean.

More Caribbean cruises coming next month

As you can see, there's still pieces of the deployment puzzle left to be unveiled, and we can expect more cruises to be released in early December.

Royal Caribbean will release the second phase of its 7-night Caribbean cruises during the week of December 4th.

What does that mean exactly? No one is exactly certain.

There's speculation among cruise fans Star of the Seas sailings will be released in this phase, with the expectation she will be based out of Port Canaveral. Royal Caribbean has made no confirmation or announcement in regard to its plans for Star of the Seas.

Star of the Seas will be the second Icon Class cruise ship, and could become the world's largest cruise ship if she is built slightly larger than Icon of the Seas.

The only facts we really know about Star of the Seas is that it will start sailing sometime in Summer 2025.

When will the other 2025 itineraries be released?

More Royal Caribbean cruises will be posted in the coming months.

• Week of December 4, 2023: 7-night Caribbean (Phase 2)
• Week of February 12, 2024: Short Caribbean, Los Angeles & Northeast 
• Week of February 19, 2024: Long Caribbean

Keep in mind the sailings could be released at any point within that week, and not necessarily on the first day of the listed week.

Why it's a good strategy to book a cruise now for 2025

It might seem crazy to book a cruise today for over two years from now, but it's one of the best money-saving strategies out there.

Cruise ships book quickly, and the more cabins that sell out, the higher prices go. So booking a cruise now can lock in a better fare than you might find next year.

Moreover, booking early gives you the choice of almost any cabin on the ship.

Certain highly desirable cabins, such as suites, get booked faster than others.  You could get the perfect room now that satisfies what you're looking for in cabin location, category, or size.

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites guide

Combine the lower prices with bargain hunters looking for suites, and you'll find a lot of veteran cruise fans booking up highly sought after cabins on popular sailings, such as holidays.

Planning on booking a 2025 cruise? These stories will help:

• 5 things to look for before you book a cruise
• What is the cheapest month to go on a cruise?
• Should I take a short or a long cruise?
• Why you shouldn't book the cheapest cruise you can find
• The best time to go on a Caribbean cruise

While nothing has been officially announced by Royal Caribbean, the rumor of a new smaller cruise ship is still floating out there.

While sailing on Radiance of the Seas this week, Captain Marek Slaby spoke to guests in a question and answer session and talked about the long-standing rumor.

After speaking about the work being done to maintain Radiance of the Seas and a planned refurbishment, Captain Marek referenced a new class of smaller cruise ships.

The Radiance and Vision Class ships are the oldest in Royal Caribbean's fleet, and the fact they are passing 20 years in age, Captain Marek believes there's a need for replacements in the coming years.

"All of these ships are over 20 years of age, and the company realizes that they're not going to be around forever," he explained.

He believes in another five or six years, we'll start to get information on what is being called internally as the Discovery Class.

"There is definitely very advanced talks about when we will start building the class of ships that will be the medium size, anything between 3000 3500 guests, because both Vision and Radiance class are not going to last forever."

Nothing official yet

This isn't the first time we've heard someone within Royal Caribbean speak about a new smaller class of cruise ship.

No new cruise ship orders have been placed with any shipbuilder, so at this stage, it appears any plans are still in an early concept stage.

Over the past few years, there's been similar statements made about the Discovery Class or Project Discovery ships.

Earlier this summer, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley made his first public comments on it.

Speaking at the President's Cruise event on Allure of the Seas, Mr. Bayley saw a need in the future to replace older ships, "We recognize that we have classes of ships now that are, you know, getting a little up there in the years."

He did not mention the new ship class name as Captain Marek did, but he did acknowledge that the company is looking at the future.

"It is something that's certainly deeply in our consideration and our planning at the moment that we have a lot of conceptual work going on."

"I think when we're ready we can we can announce steps that will take to to do just that."

"The brand has always been in kind of growth mode and we've always been building and engineering and designing new classes of ships," Mr. Bayley explained.

He was also quick to point out nothing is official, "But we're in no position to make any statements or comments about it for obvious reasons."

A possible replacement for Royal Caribbean's oldest ships

If the Discovery Class rumors are true, it's likely to replace Royal Caribbean's oldest and smallest cruise ships.

The first Vision Class ship was launched in 1995 and can accommodate around 2400 - 2700 passengers. Depending on the ship, they range between 73,817 GT and 82,910 GT.

The Radiance Class can also handle around 2400 - 2700 passengers and are 90,090 GT.

Compare that to Wonder of the Seas, which is the largest cruise ship in the world today. Wonder of the Seas measures 1,188 feet in length and has a gross tonnage of 236,857 across 18 decks. 

Icon will measure 20 decks high, 1,198 feet long, and 250,800 gross tons, making her 6% larger than Wonder. 

Both ships dwarf the Vision or Radiance Class ships.

The most notable difference that keeps these small ships valuable is the fact they can fit into ports that bigger ships cannot.

Ports such as Tampa and Baltimore are places only the smallest ships can access because of low bridges blocking access to the harbor to larger vessels.

I recently took my first cruise on a smaller Royal Caribbean ship, choosing to sail on Radiance on the Seas.

This sailing was a 5-night cruise from Tampa, Florida, stopping at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico. 

Radiance of the Seas, the first Radiance Class ship, was built in 2001 and revitalized in 2011. 

It is a smaller ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleets, with a capacity for 2,466 guests. 

Read more: 20 Radiance Class cruise ship tips and secrets

I opted to book a guarantee stateroom, choosing a cheaper price in exchange for letting Royal Caribbean assign us a less desirable cabin. Usually, they assign you the cabins that have not yet sold a few weeks before embarkation. 

The total price of the fare was $1510.74, with pre-paid gratuities included, totaling just $151 a night per person. 

About a week before my cruise, I saw that we had been assigned cabin number 4059. Located midship on the 4th deck, this was the lowest level cabin I’ve experienced before!

I appreciated the midship location, close to the elevators both in the middle of the ship and the forward end. 

It was also extremely close to our assigned table in the Main Dining Room—right there on deck 4. 

Room 4059 was a windowless inside cabin. Although Radiance of the Seas is the smallest ship I have sailed on so far, the size of the room did not disappoint. 

Despite it being a smaller inside cabin, I thought the stateroom was quite spacious, with a couch in the corner and room for two beds. 

When I walked into the room, I faced the two beds and couch on the right and the vanity and desk on the left. 

The closet was on the front left of the room, directly opposite the bathroom door. 

The bathroom was small, as I am now used to on Royal Caribbean ships. The lights were slow to flicker on, but there was nothing else to suggest that the cabin was outdated. 

Honestly, if I hadn’t already known the age of this ship, I would never have guessed that she’s as old as I am!

Read more: I sailed again on Royal Caribbean's Radiance Class ships, but think these ships need upgrades

One aspect that I did not like about the bathroom was that the shower curtain was a thin fabric instead of a plexiglass door. Water would spill under the curtain out onto the floor if I wasn’t careful. 

However, all other aspects of the bathroom were great: lots of mirrors, enough shelf space, and fresh towels daily. 

Opposite the bathroom, the closet held 6 wide shelves and countless hangers. This is one of the largest closets I've taken advantage of on my cruises. There was enough space for myself and my friend, who was traveling with me, to fill the shelves with our clothes, place our luggage on the floor of the closet, and hang jackets and dresses on the hangers. 

Further on in the room, I loved the full-length mirror opposite the vanity and the vanity aspect with lights under the mirror. 

The desk/vanity had a comfortable chair and many drawers, which were ample enough for my friend and I to store any other items there.

Tucked to the right of this desk was a small refrigerator. However, it didn’t have any cooling unit of its own, so it served more as a storage container rather than a cooler. I was able to store food there but found that it didn’t stay very cold. I put a vegan sorbet from the Main Dining Room inside this cooler, and it had melted by the next day. 

Above the desk was a small TV, which was not a smart TV but had a few free channels. 

The couch was large enough for two people to sit on, and I loved the small table next to it, where we served ourselves room-service breakfast in the mornings. 

The two beds came separated, each with a small nightstand and a lamp above it. I loved that the lamps had two settings: one dim and one much brighter.

The beds were comfortable and cozy, with fluffy pillows I couldn’t wait to rest in every night. 

There were no electricity ports on these nightstands that I could find, so we had to share the ones at the desk. Thankfully, I brought an extension cord to add several extra ports.

I also chose to bring magnetic hooks, as many people suggest, since they can stick to the steel cabin walls. 

I can't believe I didn't take advantage of this hack earlier! It was a great way to hang scarves and jewelry on the wall and keep them from getting tangled up. 

This cabin was my first one with a connecting door to the room next door. The room was connected with #4057. Since we weren’t traveling with a group, of course, we kept the connecting door locked. 

However, I did find that it was easy to hear our next-door neighbors, especially when it got quiet at night. I could hear them coughing late at night, and I’m sure they could hear my friend and I talking. 

The walls seemed thin all around, as I could also hear steps above me and people out in the hallway. 

We were also located quite near the elevators, lobby bar, and Guest Services, so we could hear the live music playing and people talking from that area. 

However, it wasn't so loud that we could not sleep. As a matter of fact, the windowless room stayed so dark that we slept very soundly most nights. 

Despite the midship location, I did find myself getting pretty seasick inside the room, maybe due to the lack of windows and no view of the horizon. Getting fresh air and taking Dramamine every day helped a lot. 

I took full advantage of room service breakfast on this trip and found that they would call us about 15 minutes before they came to deliver the breakfast. It was a great way to sleep in and enjoy a meal in the cabin. 

Despite the fact that this was a cheaper inside cabin, I found that it was large enough and nice enough that we wanted to spend time in this cabin. Saving money on booking to receive this cabin was definitely worth it! 

The AquaDome's completion was one of the biggest milestones of Icon of the Seas' construction. 

"I think it's been an amazing journey for so many of the engineers and architects and designers that we were able to produce this...I think it's testimony to the innovation and creativity of the teams," said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO. 

Encompassing more than 33,000 square meters and extending from Deck 14 to 20, the AquaDome neighborhood is truly one-of-a-kind. 

It took the team eight months to assemble the dome. Rather than work on it at the Meyer Turku shipyard, the dome was built off-site, so the forward of the ship could be completed simultaneously. 

The 367-ton AquaDome is comprised of 12 different modules that are made of steel, glass, and aluminum panels and took eight months to finish. 

54 cables were required to lift and attach the AquaDome to the spreader and an additional 12 to attach the dome back up to the crane. It was imperative that the crane operator place the dome in the precise location. 

Part of the process was also assigning an entire team just to monitor the weather! 

"All that hard work just came together," said Ellinoora Leino-Richert, AquaDome Project Manager at Meyer Turku.

"That's why all the tears [are] in my eyes and the incredible feeling that, 'Wow, we did it together.'"

The AquaDome is not only the jewel of the front of the ship, it's also a dedicated neighborhood for guests onboard to explore

The AquaDome won't just be home to the largest AquaTheater and waterfall at sea. During the day, it will be a relaxed place where guests can grab a bite to eat at the AquaDome Market, Royal Caribbean's first-ever food hall, or take in the 220-degree, wraparound ocean views.

You can also splurge on a specialty dining experience at Hooked Seafood or sip on a hand-crafted cocktail from Rye & Bean. 

At night, it will transform into a vibrant entertainment hub. There will be two different shows offers at the AquaTheater: Aqua Action! and Pirates vs. Mermaids.

You can think of Aqua Action! like an extreme sports show that will be action-packed. According to Nick Weir, Senior Vice President of Royal Entertainment & Royal Caribbean Productions, it's as close as you can get to a multi-million dollar action movie done live. 

It will incorporate Olympic-level high divers, skateboarders, aerialists, slackliners and synchronized swimmers. Additionally, the AquaTheater will feature brand-new technology, such as a double 3D flying system and robots doubling as diving boards and set creators.

Pirates vs. Mermaids is exactly what it sounds like. This family-friendly show will feature fun costumes and jokes for the parents. 

Related: Royal Caribbean unveils blockbuster show and entertainment lineup for Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas just finished her second round of sea trials, meaning she is one step closer to being delivered to Royal Caribbean

Icon of the Seas departed from Meyer Turku on October 29 for an eight-day stint at sea where the ship's noise, vibration, speed, fin stabilizers, automation, and main engine adjustments were formally tested.

"Building this ship is a challenging project, but I am proud of the shipyard workers and the fact that it is possible to build such a ship here at the Turku shipyard," said Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku in an interview given to YLE, Finland's national public broadcasting company.  

Even though Icon of the Seas is over 90% complete, there are some fome final touches that need to be made before she can be officially handed over to Royal Caribbean.