Royal Caribbean Blog

In preparing for my first cruise ever, I discovered a few things after I sailed that really made a difference onboard.

Last month, I took my very first cruise on Wonder of the Seas. The 7-day sailing traveled from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten.

There was lots to do to prepare. In addition to packing and planning my travel, I had to actually book the cruise, check in online, and plan my onboard events. 

Although there was a lot to do, planning wasn’t impossible. I had plenty of help from our travel agent, and the Royal Caribbean app and website were easily accessible.

I read articles, watched YouTube videos and TikToks, and perused the Royal Caribbean app and website for information. 

Although I still had a lot to learn from experience, researching ahead of time helped me prepare and understand what to expect and save money while ensuring I had the best experience possible.

I wanted to share the top 11 lessons I learned and what information turned out to be most helpful for my first cruise. 

1. It’s cheaper to get cash ahead of time

As someone who doesn’t usually carry cash, I was surprised to hear that I would need physical money on my cruise.

Thankfully, I listened to the advice I’d heard and went to an ATM before leaving home. I picked up about $40 in change and kept it in my wallet. 

I ended up using cash to tip the porters at the cruise terminal and to purchase souvenirs at our ports of call. 

Using an ATM before I left home also saved me money because the ATMs onboard the cruise ship charge a convenience fee. 

I wished I had brought even more cash, too—to tip our room attendant and tour guides on shore excursions. For my next cruise, I’ll be sure to get $50 to $60 in cash ahead of time.

2. Bring a water bottle—or two

I ended up feeling very thankful that I brought my trusty Hydroflask along. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use!)

A water bottle is useful for traveling to the cruise terminal, whether by plane, car, or train.

Once you’re onboard, as well, you’ll want a way to store water in your cabin. I found that I could fill up my Hydroflask with cool water at the Windjammer, then bring it back to our stateroom and have cool water available all through the night.

When I did forget to fill it up, I found myself parched and unable to access water unless I left our room.

Our stateroom attendant did leave plastic cups in the bathroom for teeth brushing, which I could drink from in an emergency. 

However, I prefer to drink filtered or bottled water and mainly try to remember to fill up my personal bottle. 

In the future, I plan to bring at least one water bottle on my cruise.

3. The food is great, but you’ll want snacks

I enjoyed all the food offerings onboard. Some of my favorite meals were included in the fare, like the Windjammer's beef stew and cheesecake in the main dining room.

However, packing a few snacks helped tide me between meals or at nighttime when fewer options were available.

Thanks to the advice I saw online, I packed a few options for midnight snacking: Taki chips, sweet candy, and gluten-free cookies. 

I appreciated having something to eat at night or between meals without spending the money for room service or dragging myself out of the cabin to find a snack.

4. Cruise line shore excursions are a good way to get started 

I saw mixed opinions on this point: is it better to go on a shore excursion through your cruise line or to explore independently?

As a first-time cruiser, I chose to go on two Royal Caribbean shore excursions when we visited St. Thomas and St. Maarten. 

On St. Thomas, my sister and I took a bus tour of the island and then spent some time at Magen’s Bay. After relaxing at the beach for a few hours, our guides took us to an outlook and souvenir location.

On St. Maarten, we took a bicycle tour of Philipsburg, with a complimentary drink and a break at a local beach.

Although these excursions are usually more pricey than independent tours, I felt reassured when it came to finding the best activities and staying on schedule. 

Royal Caribbean’s excursions will ensure you make it back to the boat on time or even delay the ship while waiting for your group to return.

If your ship can’t stop at a port for any reason, the shore excursion will also be fully refunded.

I understood that these excursions were more expensive, touristy versions of local adventures. But for my first cruise, they were worth it to put my mind at ease. 

5. Arrive at the port a day early 

When I started booking and preparing for my cruise, I learned that arriving at your port the day before you board the ship is usually recommended.

This was a surprise, as I had to push up my travel plans one day. Since the cruise left on a Sunday, we decided to get into Port Canaveral on Saturday afternoon.

For Saturday night, we booked a hotel room near the port and were able to take a shuttle straight to the ship in the morning. It definitely made the process smoother and stress-free. 

And who doesn’t appreciate an extra night in a good hotel?

The only downside with this extra day of travel was that it made our cruise feel extra long. 

Instead of just a 7-day cruise, we had about 8 full days of travel. And by the end, I was ready to be home in my own bed.

Read more: The costly cruising mistake newbies make planning their first cruise

6. Dramamine helps with seasickness

I was glad I read up on the possibility of seasickness before my cruise. Although I didn’t think I would experience it, we packed Dramamine just to be sure.

As it turned out, I felt dizzy and nauseous as soon as the ship set sail. Since we had a forward cabin, I felt the rocking of the boat much more intensely. 

Thankfully, I was able to take a Dramamine pill right away, and I felt better. As long as I took one every 12 hours, I was able to survive feeling seasick. 

Heading midship, staring at the horizon, and limiting my alcohol consumption all helped ease my motion sickness too. 

Read more: Dramamine vs Bonine: Which motion sickness medicine is best?

7. Bring your own body wash, shampoo, and conditioner 

Before my cruise, I read many reviews that stated the complimentary body and hair wash offered on the ship were not quality.

With this in mind—and my own preferences for moisturizing, clean products—I was sure to pack my own body wash and hair care.

Sure enough, the complimentary soap in our bathroom was a 3-in-1 body wash, shampoo, and conditioner with a strong scent I didn’t like. I was very thankful I brought my own toiletries, allowing me to continue my personal self-care routine.

8. Pack a variety of clothes, including formal outfits

Knowing that Royal Caribbean charges additional fees for laundry services, I consciously packed a varied wardrobe to last me through the entire 7-day trip. 

I carefully selected outfits that would accommodate casual days at sea, outings on shore excursions, and the more formal or themed nights on the cruise. 

By packing a diverse range of clothing options, I was well-prepared without worrying about laundry expenses or missing out on any special events due to inadequate attire.

Still, my research didn’t prepare me for the sheer breadth of different activities I would have access to, from laser tag to ice skating to rock climbing. 

I’ll be sure to pack an even wider variety of clothing for future cruises. 

9. Prepare to socialize

For more introverted individuals like me, it can help to prepare yourself before social situations.

From my research, I could tell that my cruise would require a lot of social energy.

And I ended up being very sociable: from check-ins with staff, dinners with multiple waiters, friendly conversations with people on elevators to even making friends at events. 

All travel involves social interaction, but cruisers are unusually friendly—I met people in hot tubs, at the casino, and at dance parties. 

While these interactions were delightful, I felt glad I’d prepared myself beforehand.

I was also able to find some quiet locations onboard so I could escape if it all got too overwhelming. 

10. Tour the ship when you first get onboard

A lot of advice online suggests that you start by touring the ship right away when you board—and I followed this to the letter.

After my sister and I boarded, we found the fitness center, toured Central Park and the surrounding decks, and headed to the Windjammer and pool area. 

After having lunch and walking around the pool, we located our cabin.

Especially on a big ship like Wonder of the Seas, it helped to start by getting the lay of things. Handy maps were also located in every hallway and elevator, so getting lost would have been hard.

11. Unpack everything right away

This tip is most helpful for longer cruises. When you have many days of sailing, ports, and activities, it helps to unpack right away and organize your things.

For example, I put my toiletries on shelves and my snacks in drawers. I hung up all my jackets and dresses and then set out my shoes in the corner.

Later on, I was glad that I had unpacked because it helped me stay organized and get ready faster. This also ensured my clothes didn’t stay wrinkled or get smelly while packed in a bag.

Since I knew where everything was—and didn’t have to dig through a bag to find it—we could get dressed and out the door much quicker. 

This hack saved time and helped us get to activities, events, ports, and dinners on time. 

Read more: 15 Things To Do As Soon as You Get to Your Cruise Cabin

The reserved spot on all cruise ships for Royal Caribbean's top tier members is getting a new name.

The Diamond Lounge has been the name of a special room dedicated to the upper echelon of cruisers, and it appears Royal Caribbean will change the name of it.

Royal Caribbean informed guests of the change in the cruise line's monthly newsletter.

Royal Caribbean Director of Loyalty, Courtney Brant, wrote, "I’m thrilled to announce that over the next few weeks, the Diamond Lounge — beloved by our Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members — is being specially renamed as the Crown Lounge across our fleet."

The Diamond Lounge is available for use by Crown and Anchor members who have reached Diamond, Diamond Plus or Pinnacle status.

Read more: 11 of our favorite under-the-radar Crown & Anchor perks

Royal Caribbean trademarked the phrase Crown Lounge with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on July 21, 2023.

The description of the trademark stated, "Cruise line lounge services; providing food and drink services."

Along with the name, she included a new logo too.

Why the change? According to Ms. Brant, it represents what being a loyal guest means today, "This is more than just a new name — it’s a tribute to the legacy of the Royal Caribbean maritime heritage. It’s a nod to our roots, and a symbol of our dedication to our loyal guests.""

There is no indication yet when the name change will occur.

The renaming of Diamond Lounge to Crown Lounge does not apply to Spectrum of the Seas.

She also said there's no functional change to how the Crown Lounge will operate, "Don’t worry — access requirements aren’t changing. All members who have enjoyed the Diamond Lounge will continue to enjoy the exclusivity and comfort of your private space with delicious treats and top-notch service."

If the name sounds familiar, it could be a reference to the Viking Crown Lounge, which was one of Royal Caribbean's first signature venues that separated it from other lines.

The Viking Crown Lounge was originally created in 1970 for Song of Norway, and became so popular it continued be a staple of Royal Caribbean ship design.  

Over the years, as ships grew in size, the Viking Crown Lounge grew, too, and starting with the Vision Class ships in 1995, moved from its position on the smokestacks to a nearby larger spot amidships with equally stunning views.

In addition, many (but not all) Diamond Lounges are located in the Viking Crown Lounge.

How does the Crown Lounge work?

The Crown Lounge is a room on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship that can only be accessed by Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle Club cruises.

There is seating to enjoy, as well as light snacks served throughout the day.  

You'll find continental breakfast served each morning. Those who prefer to have specialty coffee can enjoy cappuccinos and lattes via an automated machine all day. Each evening, you can find different nightly appetizers served. 

There is also a dedicated Diamond Lounge Concierge to help you with any sort of issues you might have onboard. These concierges can help with dining reservations, questions, tender tickets and more. 

In the evening hours, drink service is provided, which guests can use their complimentary free drink vouchers while in the lounge.

Read more: How Royal Caribbean's free drink vouchers for Diamond and higher members works

Overcrowding issues

There was no mention of something else Royal Caribbean has been wrestling with related to the Diamond Lounge: overcrowding.

Last month, Royal Caribbean’s CEO Michael Bayley asked cruisers on Facebook for their thoughts on how to tackle the issue of overcrowding in what is now known as the Crown Lounge.

The question was posed seemingly out of the blue, although it did come immediately after this year's President's Cruise when the company's most loyal cruisers congregate on a single sailing and have access to share their thoughts with Mr. Bayley.

While the Crown Lounge has had issues with being busy for years, Mr. Bayley indicated an influx of new Diamond members has exacerbated the issue. 

There was no mention in the announcement of any policy shifts to account for the matter that Mr. Bayley raised.

The saying goes, “Age is just a number,” but is this really true when it comes to cruise ships?  

Last weekend, I set sail on Royal Caribbean’s worst rated cruise ship: Grandeur of the Seas. My itinerary was a quick 4-night sailing to Cozumel, but this was more than enough time to experience everything this old and small cruise ship had to offer. 

I’ve heard many cruisers state that Grandeur of the Seas is the worst ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. This perception is likely due to the ship’s old age and lack of modern amenities. In fact, I avoided sailing on this ship for many years because of this! 

Needless to say, Grandeur of the Seas’ reputation precedes her… and clearly not in the best way.

“Worst cruise of my 23 cruises,” shared one reviewer on Cruise Critic. 

Another said the ship was a “nightmare” and the AC in their cabin did not work, leaving them to sleep in the heat.

“Welcome to 1996. Ship is an old, rusty, rundown bucket. Cabins desperately need refurbishing,” wrote another reviewer. 

And it’s not just rumors that Grandeur of the Seas is the worst ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. According to US News & World Reports, Grandeur of the Seas was ranked the worst Royal Caribbean ship of the entire fleet. “While the ship boasts a rock climbing wall and six whirlpools, it lacks some of the modern amenities found on other Royal Caribbean ships, like a surf simulator and waterslides,” the review states. 

Additionally, Cruise Critic ranks Grandeur of the Seas with a below-average score of 3.9/5.0. The editorial review says, “The lack of top deck attractions poses an activity challenge for families; cabins feel dated.”

Some sailing on Grandeur of the Seas might feel catfished by Royal Caribbean; after all, the cruise line’s advertisements showcase new ships with tons of things to do onboard. Boarding Grandeur of the Seas is a stark contrast and I can see how this could lead to some disappointment.

While the cruise ship is far from tiny, measuring 73,000 gross tons, the onboard experience is vastly different than Royal Caribbean’s newest ships. During my short cruise, I had plenty of time onboard to see if the rumors were true. Here’s what it was really like to sail on Royal Caribbean’s worst rated ship. 

Grandeur of the Seas, which debuted in 1996 as part of the Vision class, is the oldest ship in the cruise line’s fleet

Royal Caribbean is known for building some of the biggest and most innovative cruise ships in the world. Most of the cruise line’s ships are filled with adrenaline pumping thrills, such as waterslides, zip lines, skydiving simulators and ice skating rinks. The newest cruise ships are so large that Royal Caribbean had to divide the ships into separate neighborhoods!

However, Royal Caribbean’s oldest cruise ships are a far cry from being big or innovative. You won’t find any onboard thrills on a Vision class ship, except for a rock climbing wall at the ship’s aft.

Grandeur of the Seas represents an entirely different era of cruising, one of intimacy and simplicity. Back in the 1990s, cruise ships were considered modestly sized and the onboard experience centered around relaxing on the pool deck with a drink in hand.

The ship went through a major refurbishment in 2012, costing $48 million to add new restaurants, onboard internet, Diamond Lounge, Concierge Lounge and entertainment venues. 

Back in 2019, it was announced that the ship would be sold to sister-brand Pullmantur Cruises, retiring Grandeur from the Royal Caribbean fleet. These plans were eventually reversed during the pandemic in mid-2020, presumably a financial decision.

Now, Grandeur of the Seas will be sailing for Royal Caribbean for the foreseeable future. 

While I’ve sailed on other Vision class ships before, I set my expectations very low for this weekend sailing

I’ve been cruising with Royal Caribbean for almost 20 years and I have sailed multiple times on Vision class ships. My very first Royal Caribbean cruise was onboard Enchantment of the Seas back in 2005. Although I was just a kid, the cruising experience still wowed me. 

I later sailed on Vision of the Seas in 2012 for my first European cruise with my family. The tiny ship whisked us from Norway to France, England, Ireland and Scotland. Seeing Paris was my lifelong dream at 16 years old - and Vision of the Seas made it happen!

Later, my husband and I sailed in 2018 on Rhapsody of the Seas for our honeymoon. It was a magical, port-intensive itinerary visiting ports in Italy, Greece and Croatia. 

Needless to say, I’ve had very positive and memorable experiences on Vision class ships! These small ships often sail on more interesting itineraries for an affordable price. For those who don’t need the glitz that you find on bigger cruise ships, Vision class ships can be a great choice. 

However, I had never sailed on Grandeur of the Seas before and it had been a while since my last Vision class cruise. My recent sailing on Jewel of the Seas - a slightly newer and bigger ship - left me slightly disappointed in the ship’s overall condition. I didn’t want to be disappointed this time around, so I anticipated that the ship would show its age. 

I figured I would see a lot of rust around the ship, including a poorly designed and dated stateroom. I think managing expectations is important when you book a cheap cruise, as I did not expect much from Grandeur of the Seas.

After boarding the ship in Tampa, we were pleasantly surprised by the ship’s condition

My sister and I made our way to Tampa to board Grandeur of the Seas for a weekend sailing to Cozumel. We had two sea days to enjoy the ship as well, which I was looking forward to. 

Once we boarded the ship, I started to look for signs of wear and tear. Given Grandeur’s reputation, I kept a keen eye to look for signs of deterioration and rust. 

To my surprise, Grandeur of the Seas appeared to be in very good condition! Of course, the ship felt older and her overall design was dated. But, it was not near as bad as I anticipated. Certainly there were few signs of rust as we wandered around the ship, but nothing outrageous. 

Not to mention, last summer I sailed on Carnival’s oldest cruise ship, Carnival Ecstasy, and that cruise ship was covered in rust. While we had a lot of fun, the ship was one month from retirement in the scrapyard. It was not surprising that the ship’s condition was subpar, along with most of the decor looking gaudy and outdated. We even saw duct tape on a porthole window!

(Carnival Ecstasy colorful hallway during August 2022 sailing)

The elevators and carpet were all in better-than-expected condition. It seemed as though the ship had been well maintained - it didn't feel like an old ship. Nothing looked extremely outdated or worn-down, which was a pleasant surprise. Based on all of the negative reviews I had seen, I truly expected the ship to be in rough condition. 

Almost immediately, I noticed how many spaces Grandeur of the Seas had to soak in ocean views

We entered the ship on Deck 5 into the center atrium of the ship. The six-story atrium, called the Centrum, is surrounded by glass walls and even a glass ceiling. It’s beautifully designed and lets in so much natural light.

Throughout the cruise, this became one of my favorite aspects of Grandeur of the Seas. There were so many spaces onboard where you could see the ocean and enjoy the views. The first morning, my sister and I sipped on our coffee while overlooking the glass panels in the Centrum. 

On Deck 5, you could quickly access the promenade deck if you wanted to get outside to see the sea views. I saw more people taking pictures with the sunset than ever! In the aft of the ship, we found a stunning view of the ship’s wake on the last night. 

Without all the commotion of a big cruise ship, I felt more relaxed being at sea. There was not pressure to do and try everything possible. Instead, I simply just enjoyed taking in the beautiful sea views and relaxing. 

This short cruise actually reminded me of my Semester at Sea experience in college. I sailed on a ship for four months while studying abroad. Our ship was one third of the size of Grandeur of the Seas and had just a small pool for activities. But, the experience was about the destinations, connecting with others and embracing the sea life.

My short time on Grandeur of the Seas brought be back to that time of being disconnected while living at sea.

We anticipated an outdated cruise cabin, especially considering we had booked the cheapest stateroom onboard

My sister and I didn’t want to blow too much money on this weekend cruise. We were surprised by the cheap prices we found for Grandeur of the Seas. For an inside cabin guarantee, we paid $466 each and this included gratuities, port fees and taxes. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide

Some of the reviews mentioned that Grandeur’s cabins were too outdated, but my sister and I didn’t find this a point of contention. Most of the ships we’ve sailed on recently also had outdated cabins, so perhaps we had realistic expectations. 

Again, we had low expectations for what our cabin experience would be like on Grandeur of the Seas. We were assigned cabin 3505, which was located on Deck 3. As with most guarantee cabins, our stateroom was located at the very front of the ship, which wouldn’t be my first choice. But, location is not as important to me on a short itinerary. 

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

Our cabin was small, but had enough space for everything we needed. The square footage was right around 142 square feet. Everything in the cabin also felt well maintained. The cabin was outdated, but it felt similar in design and age to Radiance and Voyager class ships. 

The bathroom really surprised us! I fully anticipated to have a very outdated bathroom, but this appeared to be refurbished from the original design. The light woodwork nicely accented the white flooring, with a colorful backsplash.

The biggest disappointment in the cabin was our shower. It was oddly shaped and required the use of a clingy shower curtain. If you didn’t want the curtain to hug you throughout your shower, then you had to deal with wet floors in the bathroom. 

We only had one outlet each to share, which was a pain. I forgot to pack my USB extender, which made it more difficult to charge all of my devices efficiently. But, this was not surprising. Most older ships feature cabins that do not have modern amenities unless a cruise line has prioritized upgrading cabins on an older ship. Instead, maintenance is the priority.  

Overall, the cabin was comfortable and clean. It wasn’t modern by any means, but it certainly didn’t feel as outdated as I anticipated. We slept well each evening, and found ourselves spending more time in our cabin than usual because the ship did not have as much to do. It was a quiet, cozy space to return to each evening.

Many of the negative reviews mentioned that the food on Grandeur of the Seas was lackluster

Talking about cruise food is a hot topic, especially on a Royal Caribbean cruise. What one person loves, another might hate. The recently changed Main Dining Room menus have only added fuel to the fire. As such, food is generally more subjective and I take negative reviews with a grain of salt. 

Grandeur of the Seas has four complimentary dining venues: Windjammer, Main Dining Room, Park Cafe and Cafe Latitudes. There are also specialty dining options: Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi and Chef’s Table. 

The first evening, we dined in Giovanni’s Table to take advantage of our BOGO Diamond Plus benefit. We had an amazing meal, consisting of carbonara, gnocchi, burrata caprese salad and filet mignon. The service was wonderful and we enjoyed the quiet ambiance. 

Read more: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

However, we heard from many fellow guests that the dinner in the Main Dining Room on the first night was not good. Since we didn’t dine there the first night, we did not experience this. The remaining three evenings during our sailing, we had dinner in the Main Dining Room. We enjoyed our meals and the service was great! 

The final evening, we witnessed quite the send-off party with waiters dancing around the tables Greek style!

Some even jumped on the table and chairs to dance. It was an absolute riot with everyone in the dining room joining in the fun! I loved seeing the waiters letting loose and having fun as well.

On the other hand, the Windjammer buffet was less impressive

It was strange to me that the Windjammer buffet was located at the front of the ship. The venue was covered with glass, even on the ceiling. While this gave nice views of the sea, the buffet always felt stuffy. We couldn’t sit in there too long without being uncomfortably hot. 

My sister said most of the things she tried in the Windjammer tasted a bit bland, while I had better luck with my selections. Breakfast was better than lunch, at least in our experience. There were plenty of options to choose from, and we never had an issue finding a table. 

In general, the Windjammer was a hit or miss. Normally, I don’t have any issues with the Windjammer onboard Royal Caribbean, but it did feel more inconsistent on Grandeur of the Seas. My sister also agreed that her food seemed bland in comparison to her other cruises. 

The Solarium onboard also featured another complimentary dining option: Park Cafe

I was surprised to see a Park Cafe onboard Grandeur of the Seas, which was located in the corner of the adults-only Solarium. This is where you could grab a snack during off-hours when the Windjammer is closed; for example, between 3pm and 6pm, this is one of the only places to grab food.

Park Cafe was bigger than a typical Solarium Cafe. There were options for soups, sandwiches, pizza and dessert. There was also a dedicated salad bar! Since Grandeur of the Seas does not have Royal Caribbean’s signature Sorrento’s, this was the only place to come get complimentary pizza. 

We grabbed snacks here a few times during our cruise - and everything tasted great! The pizza was nothing to get excited about, but it tasted good. 

When it comes to entertainment, Grandeur of the Seas had simple production shows and activities

Some of Royal Caribbean’s bigger ships have Broadway-style productions, high diving shows and ice skating spectacles. However, you won’t find anything of the like on Grandeur of the Seas.

Instead, everything is relatively simple onboard for entertainment. Each evening, you can find one production in the Palladium theatre. During our sailing, this consisted of a comedy show, an impersonator and a show called Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme. Some shows only had one time, so we were unable to attend one evening because of our dinner time. 

Activities during the day were also limited to trivia, adult coloring, a belly flop contest, volleyball and the sexiest man competition. In the evening, you could attend events like karaoke and game shows. There was also live music around the ship, along with big themed parties in the evenings - like Hush Disco and the 70s party.

We found that the activities were busy, but might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Since the cruise ship had little to do for kids and teens, it seemed like many kids joined into the adult competitions. This could be avoided with activities that were specially designated for adults versus families. 

Considering Grandeur of the Seas only has one main pool available for kids and a rock climbing wall, this ship would not be suitable for children. This is likely why we did not see many kids onboard, as I would guess many would be bored. I’d suggest a Voyager class ship or newer if you want to bring your kids onboard and be confident that they would have enough to do to keep busy.

Regardless, my sister and I had a good time each evening with the entertainment. Nothing wowed us, but we never felt bored. 

Our sailing was packed with bachelorette parties, family reunions and large groups traveling together - and the bars could not keep up

Everyone worries about spring break partiers, but I don’t see many people mention bachelorette and bachelor parties on cruises! During this sailing, we saw tons of people celebrating a bride or groom onboard. This is likely because our sailing was cheap and short, along with the fact that many people get married in the fall.

Because of this, our sailing was one big party! The bars were constantly packed, so much so that I often didn’t want to wait in line to get a drink. Grandeur of the Seas only has a few bars, including the pool bar, Solarium bar and Schooner bar. At any given hour of the day, these were packed.

We also noticed tables of empty drink cups during our cruise. It was as if one person set down their empty drink glass and then everyone followed, although this area was not a place for empty cups. I think the staff had a hard time keeping up with all of the drinking. 

I have never seen the bars be so consistently busy. I think with so many groups traveling together, many people purchased the drink package. The bartenders were doing their best to keep up - and my liver probably thanks me for not having too much to drink!

Overall, Grandeur of the Seas exceeded my expectations and I wouldn’t hesitate to sail onboard again

Because my expectations were low, I was anticipating the ship to be rusty and worn down. I am pleased to say that the ship exceeded my expectations! 

We found the ship to be in relatively good condition for being 26 years old. The service onboard was also fantastic, and we also liked the food and entertainment. It almost felt like we were looking for things to be wrong so we could see what the negative reviews were stating. 

The internet was more reliable than expected - Grandeur of the Seas is even outfitted with Starlink. We were able to stream and FaceTime without issue, even in our cabin. I wouldn’t be concerned trying to get some work done if needed onboard. 

After this experience, I truly would not hesitate to book another sailing onboard Grandeur of the Seas or any other Vision class ship. Sailing on a smaller ship had its perks, such as fewer crowds and easy access to everything onboard. You were never too far away from your cabin or the destination you were heading.

We spent most of our downtime in the Solarium relaxing on the loungers. We never had an issue finding an empty chair, which is very different than Royal Caribbean's bigger ships. In general, Grandeur of the Seas never felt too crowded and most places onboard felt spacious. It was a nice change to not feel cramped, which is often a complaint of the bigger, mega cruise ships.

However, I wouldn’t want to sail on Grandeur of the Seas with too many sea days. There is not much to do onboard and I would probably get a little bored after too much time on the ship. If there was a port-intensive itinerary where the destination was the focus of the cruise, I would be totally comfortable sailing onboard Grandeur of the Seas. 

Royal Caribbean has added a new option when booking a cruise on its website to also buy a drink package at the same time.

Drink packages are among the most popular extra cost add-ons that Royal Caribbean offers its guests.

These unlimited drink packages include as much of the drinks not included with the Royal Caribbean cruise fare.

The Royal Caribbean website now has a Beverage Package step added to the checkout flow, where guests are given the choice to add them to their cart at the same time of booking the cruise.

Before this feature was added, guests had no access to book drink packages until they had placed a deposit and booked the cruise reservation first.

Moreover, guests can now see how much a drink package will cost them before booking a cruise.

The beverage package screen offers the three primary drink packages available: Deluxe Beverage package, Refreshment Package, and Classic Soda package.

Just like when purchasing a drink package through the Cruise Planner website, there is a discount offered when bought before the cruise.

Royal Caribbean offers a discount on its drink package when purchased before the cruise begins.  The onboard price is always higher.

The price of a drink package pre-cruise can change in the months leading up to a cruise, depending on what sale the line has running.

Read more: Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package

Don't worry if you change your mind later about a drink package, because all pre-cruise purchases are fully refundable.

Not only that, you can cancel and rebook if there's a better price later.

Read more: How to cancel and rebook pre-cruise purchases on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner

What's included with a drink package?

Each of Royal Caribbean's drink packages includes a selection of beverages that would otherwise cost you extra for each purchase.

The Classic Soda package includes:

• Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages
• Coca-Cola souvenir cup
• Fountain soda and refills at any venue

The Refreshment package includes:

• Premium coffees and teas
• Fresh-squeezed juices
• Non-alcoholic cocktails
• Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages
• Coca-Cola souvenir cup
• Fountain soda and refills at any venue

The Deluxe Beverage package includes:

• Cocktails, Spirits, and Premium Liquors
• Beer and Spiked Seltzers
• Wine by the Glass
• Fountain soda and refills at any venue
• Premium coffees and teas
• Fresh-squeezed juices
• Non-alcoholic cocktails
• Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages
• Coca-Cola souvenir cup

Cruise add-ons are big business

Offering a drink package at the time of booking is smart business for Royal Caribbean given how lucrative these add-ons have been for the company.

More people are making pre-cruise purchases than ever before, thanks to a combination of higher demand to splurge on extras, as well as better market penetration.

According to Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty, about two thirds of guests bought something for their cruise before the cruise began. 

That's up from 48% in 2019, which indicates the company is seeing the most demand ever for these add-ons.

Not only is this getting them more business, it's generating higher profits too.

Getting people to book things before the cruise commences has an impact on their bottom line, "Every dollar a guest spends, pre-cruise translates into approximately $0.70 of incremental spend."

Royal Caribbean invested heavily in its e-commerce system to provide better sales pitches to guests, and the result is now materializing in passengers spending more money than ever before their cruise begins.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the investment in better software during an earnings call earlier this year, "The investment that we made in the software for pre-cruise revenue, which continued through the pandemic."

"We've really leveraged that now, and we've seen a significant increase in penetration and uptick with up-tick sales."

More features added to booking a cruise

Royal Caribbean has also made other tweaks and updates to its website feature list.

When booking a cruise, there is an option to sign in via a pop-up window.  This will then prepopulate your information once you sign-in.

Previously the log in would take you off the page.

In addition, scheduled payments are available now via the My Reservation section.

If you make a deposit on your booking and then go to manage the booking in the My Reservations section, you can now schedule payments.

This applies to single cabin bookings outside of the final payment period. Once you're past final payment, you can not use this feature because you will have had to pay off the entire balance of the reservation.

Planning a Royal Caribbean cruise? Start here:

• 8 cruise tips for first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers
• What’s included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• 5 quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own
• Food on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• Which is the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship?
• What is the best time to go on a Caribbean cruise?

When the Royal Caribbean team was in the process of designing Icon of the Seas, it was important that they cook up dining experiences for every type of traveler. 

Onboard, you'll find over 40 different food and beverage experiences, meaning that every single day and night of your vacation can serve up a different vibe. 

Maybe one night you'll want to splurge on the swanky Empire Supper Club, while the next you'll want to dine under the stars at the complimentary Park Cafe! 

"Our incredible team, they're bringing different types of fare across each neighborhood. I think our guests are going to look at all this variety of dining and beverage as almost an adventure," said Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean will offer swanky supper club and food hall on new Icon of the Seas when it launches

In order to curate experiences for everyone, the Royal Caribbean team spent a lot of time planning and testing equipment, recipes, designs, and more 

In addition to consumer research, the Royal Caribbean team spent about two years traveling to top cities for research, including New York, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Barcelona, and more. 

Linken D'Souza, Vice President of Food and Beverage for Royal Caribbean International said, "In our research, our guests told us they were looking for convenience, choice, and variety, as well as the ability to have lots of different opportunities to dine differently while on vacation. And so on Icon of the Seas, we have over 40 food and beverage venues, with over 20 brand new experiences." 

These vary from easy and simple to those that are sophisticated and classy. "Anything that you want to experience as it relates to dining is available on Icon of the Seas," remarked Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International's President and CEO. 

There were over 100 showcases, which Rebecca Burns, Senior Manager of Restaurant Operations for Royal Caribbean International described as opportunities for the operators to set the stage and tone to see the space, where the ingredients, dishes, and experiences were tested. 

Jennifer Goswami - Director of Product Development for Royal Caribbean International said, "Dining on Icon will be so multifaceted, so we took the best of everything we've learned. And we've really evolved it for Icon."

What does all this mean? There are options for everyone, whether it's an adults-only night out to kid-friendly grab-and-go spaces. 

New dining spots onboard Icon of the Seas

Empire Supper Club

The Empire Supper Club is a super premium dining experience that will feature amazing music, dining, and beverage pairings. This eight-course meal will cost $200 per person and take three hours. With each dish, there will be a small cocktail pairing that matches the ingredients. 

Onboard Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean converted 150 Central Park into the Empire Supper Club to test how well all of the aspects of the experience worked together. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean's most expensive specialty restaurant ever will take 3 hours and cost $200 per person

AquaDome Market

Within the AquaDome Market, Royal Caribbean's first-ever food hall, guests will find five food stands with options for all guests, including those who are gluten-free and vegetarians. The five different stands are Feta Mediterranean, Mac's, Toast and Garden, GNGR, and Crème de la Crepe. 

Crème de la Crepe will serve sweet and savory crepes, including yummy breakfast options with eggs and hash browns. GNGR will feature Asian dishes, while Toast and Garden will serve salads and sandwiches. 

Mac and cheese lovers will love the mac and cheese stand, Mac's, where they can order specialty mac and cheese dishes topped with things like pulled pork, broccoli, and more. 

Feta Mediterranean is where you can go to get fresh pitas and Mediterranean bowls. 

Surfside Eatery

Surfside Eatery is one of three brand-new dining experiences within the stay-all-day neighborhood for young families, where you'll also find three water experiences, the first bar for kids and adults, and more. 

Rather than leave the neighborhood to head up to the Windjammer, Surfside Eatery is another complimentary buffet option that's been designed for families! Here, you'll find fun stencil pancakes (i.e., those cut to form smiley faces and more), as well as cookies with different designs!

Pier 7

The casual California specialty restaurant Pier 7 will serve brunch all day long. While mom and dad can enjoy a sit-down meal, kids can dine on their favorites, such as grilled cheese sandwiches. Plus, kids eat for free here! 

Surfside Bites

Those who want a quick snack will appreciate Surfside Bites, where you can go if you want something grab-and-go. This pick-up window will serve handheld options. 

Izumi pick-up window

Speaking up pick-up windows, Icon of the Seas will be the first ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet to have a grab-and-go Izumi window. Located in Central Park, there is where guests can go to grab sushi, hot gyoza, and soft serve bubble cones for a refreshing afternoon sweet treat! 

Basecamp

Thrill Island is where you'll find the record-breaking Category 6 Water Park. Of course, you will need to be able to fuel yourself, so you don't run out of energy. 

Basecamp, the outdoor, fast-casual eatery located in Thrill Island is where you can grab a quick bite to eat before returning to the Pressure Drop for the second (or third) time.

It's also a place where you can meet up with friends and family to talk about all the surrounding activities. Maybe you're traveling with a multigenerational party. 

A lunch at Basecamp will allow your teenagers to fill in their grandparents on all the exciting things that they've been up to while eating things like waffle chicken nuggets topped with hot honey, smash burgers, crispy shrimp bao buns, and more. 

Pearl Café

Located in the Royal Promenade, Pearl Cafe will feature elevated options compared to the Cafe Promenade found onboard some other ships. Don't worry, though, it'll still be open 24/7, meaning that you'll always be able to grab a complimentary sandwich, ready-made salad, and more at any hour!

You'll also be able to enjoy both complimentary and specialty coffees. 

The Grove

The Grove is an al fresco buffet that will only be available to those staying in Star and Sky Class suites, as it's located in the suites-only area. It's another dining option in addition to Coastal Kitchen; however, it'll be much smaller, with a capacity of only 38 passengers. 

Celebration Table

Celebration Table will be kind of like an elevated Chef's Table. This fully rentable private dining room inside of Hooked Seafood will be able to seat twelve guests. 

There will be four different family-style prix fixe menus to choose from: American, Asian, Seafood, and Italian. You can also personalize and upgrade the selections, too. 

Returning favorites

Onboard Icon of the Seas, there will be many fan favorites available for passengers to enjoy, including Playmakers, El Loco Fresh, Hooked, Sugar Beach, Sorrento's, and Coastal Kitchen. 

However, many returning dining venues will have their own flare compared to other ships in the fleet. You can expect to find new dishes, designs, locations, and more! 

Chops Grille

For the first time, you'll be able to hand-select your cut of meat at Chops Grille thanks to the impressive butcher's display. 

Izumi

Have you ever wanted to enjoy sushi al fresco? Izumi is being relocated to Central Park onboard Icon of the Seas. Plus, there will be more hibachi tables to allow even more guests to enjoy a fun teppanyaki experience. 

Trellis Bar

Also returning to Central Park is the Trellis Bar. This beloved meeting point will, for the first time, have a menu for those who want to enjoy some snacks at the bar. Some potential offerings include beef tartare, mac and cheese poppers, crab cake fritters, steak bites, and crispy truffle fries. 

Park Café

In addition to the legendary Royal Kümmelweck roast beef sandwich, guests can expect to find new breakfast, lunch, and -- yes -- dinner sandwiches, as the Park Café onboard Icon of the Seas will be open later than on other ships in the fleet. Plus, there will be new salads, too.

Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

Located on Deck 6 in the Royal Promenade, the new location of Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar will allow diners to be connected to the action of the main thoroughfare. It will be the first time that Royal Caribbean will feature a specialty restaurant in the Royal Promenade, too!

Main Dining Room

A staple onboard every Royal Caribbean ship, the three-story Main Dining Room onboard Icon of the Seas will have a special kids' menu where they'll be able to see their options, as well as fold and play with it after making their decisions! 

Read more: First look at Royal Caribbean's new main dining room menus

Windjammer

Kids will love the Windjammer as it'll feature a "Kidjammer." In other words, a section of the Windjammer has been designed with children in mind, and they will find yummy treats like cake pops, as well as kid favorites like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chicken fingers. 

A milestone in the construction of Celebrity Cruises' fourth Edge Class cruise ship has begun.

On September 27, Celebrity Ascent departed from Saint-Nazaire, France to begin her sea trials. 

"It’s always a great emotion for anyone who worked on a cruise ship to see it take the sea for the first time," wrote Saint-Nazaire Renversante on Facebook. 

"Today the #CelebrityAscent left for 4 days of sea trials before returning on September 30th to #SaintNazaire. Its delivery and departure are scheduled for early November. We'll keep you informed."

Celebrity Ascent sails the open ocean for the very first time

Over the course of the next few days, Celebrity Ascent will have certain features and systems tested that cannot be done while she's docked. 

Sea trials are an important part of the construction process of any cruise ship, as they allow for certain navigational and technical systems to be tested. It's the final stage of construction prior to the ship being delivered to the cruise line. 

Sea trials range in duration. When Icon of the Seas underwent her first round of sea trials earlier this year, she spent an entire week at sea. Celebrity Ascent, however, is planned to return on September 30 after only four days. 

In addition, sometimes, there can be two different sessions. 

Fourth ship in the cruise line's innovative Edge Class

While Celebrity Ascent is not part of a brand new class of ships like Icon of the Seas, she is part of Celebrity Cruises' most innovative class of ship yet. 

Sister to Celebrity Edge, Apex, and Beyond, the launch of Celebrity Ascent means that guests have more opportunities to sail onboard an Edge Class vessel. 

“First launched in 2018, the Edge Series transformed what cruising could be and its ships like Edge, Apex, and Beyond quickly became consumer favorites," said Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity Cruises’ President.

"Continuously striving to offer travelers a better way to enjoy travel and reach the world around them, we are so proud of what we have built and look forward to welcoming both seasoned and new cruisers alike.” 

Of course, many Edge Class favorites will return, such as the state-of-the-art theater, Rooftop Garden, resort-style pool deck, adults-only Solarium, Sunset Bar, Magic Carpet, the Grand Plaza and Martini Bar, and three-story Eden Bar and Restaurant.

To make this brand-new ship stand out, there will be new and refreshed experiences. In other words, cruising onboard this ship will be different from any other ship in the class!

In terms of dining, guests can expect to find a redesigned Le Voyage by Daniel Boulud, a plant-based tasting menu at Eden Restaurant, high-end bourbon tastings at Craft Social, an expanded Martini Bar menu, and a refreshed complimentary Cosmopolitan restaurant. 

Moreover, Blu, the exclusive restaurant dedicated to AquaClass guests, will have an outdoor terrace with the ability to seat 24 guests.

Other aspects of the cruising experience will be enhanced, too, such as the theater's original production shows, the addition of interactive digital experiences in the Club, new immersive shows in Eden Bar and Restaurant, and a redesigned casino that will feature brand-new games. 

Those looking to shop will appreciate the Sunset Collection by Nate Berkus, which is a collection of travel and home accessories that can only be found onboard Celebrity Ascent!

Where will Celebrity Ascent sail to?

Celebrity Ascent is going to begin her maiden season sailing throughout the Caribbean before she embarks on a transatlantic voyage to spend her summer in Europe.

Whether you want to bask in the warm Caribbean sunshine or experience culturally rich European cities, there's the perfect itinerary for you to choose from if you want to sail onboard Celebrity Ascent within the first year of her launch. 

Her maiden voyage is slated to set sail on December 3, 2023. It will be a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise that will visit St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Puerto Plata.

There's a chance that Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises will be merging their loyalty programs in the future. 

The Captain's Club is the cruise line's program that rewards cruisers for showing loyalty to Celebrity Cruises. After your first cruise with the brand, you'll start earning points to move up the ranks of their program.

During a Captain's Club webinar sent via email on September 26, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge answered questions sent in from loyal Celebrity fans, including some about Perfect Day at CocoCay, the future of "All Included," vaping in the casino, and potential changes to their loyalty program.

While no definitive answer was provided, members of Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club and Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society may be able to consolidate their statuses in the future. 

Is Celebrity Cruises considering the possibility of consolidating Royal Caribbean Group loyalty programs?

Andrea Shay, AVP of Loyalty for Celebrity Cruises, took the reign on this question, responding by saying, "I'm so glad that this question came up, and it's something that members are asking for."

"We have some status match between the brands today, but there's such a huge opportunity for us to do more and really take advantage of the connection and us being part of the same family."

According to Shay, the status match doesn't thread the three Royal Caribbean Group brands together, so they're working with their sister brands. Hopefully, more will be revealed in the coming months. 

Celebrity Cruises' current status match program

By status matching, cruisers are able to receive comparable benefits from Celebrity's Captain's Club when sailing onboard Royal Caribbean ships. 

You won't, however, be able to match your status with Royal Caribbean until you become a Select member, which corresponds with the Platinum tier of the Crown & Anchor Society. 

When you become an Elite member, you'll level up to a Diamond Crown & Anchor member. This is the highest tier you will be able to match into. 

Likewise, if you are matching into Celebrity's Captain's Club through the Crown & Anchor Society, Platinum and Emerald members will be able to benefit from Select benefits, while those Diamond and become will get those of an Elite member. 

With the status match program, you don't earn points when sailing on a sister brand. So, for instance, if you are a Diamond Crown & Anchor member through points, sailings on Celebrity Cruises won't help you move towards Diamond Plus status. 

Similarly, you won't earn any Crown & Anchor points if you embark on a 14-night transatlantic cruise onboard a Celebrity ship. 

What kinds of benefits do Elite Captain's Club members get?

To become an Elite member, you'll have to earn 300 points. Earning points is based upon a couple of factors, such as the length of your cruise and cabin category that you sail in:

• Inside or ocean view: 2 points per night
• Veranda: 3 points per night
• Concierge Class and AquaClass: 5 points per night
• Sky Suites and Aqua Sky Suite: 8 points per night
• Celebrity, Signature, Royal, and Sunset Suites: 12 points per night
• Penthouse, Reflection, and Edge Villa: 18 points per night
• Iconic Suite: 24 points per night

This means that it is possible to earn Elite status after three cruises if you book a Penthouse, Reflection, or Edge Villa. 

Elite members get a private continental breakfast, access to private events, priority tender access, 20% off any bottle of wine, 15% discount on drink package or premium drink package, a complimentary cocktail hour from 5-7pm, and more. 

What perks come with Royal Caribbean's Diamond tier?

Once you reach 80 cruise points, you'll become a Diamond member with the Crown & Anchor Society. This is when you begin unlocking some pretty lucrative benefits, such as daily drink vouchers, a free day of internet, a complimentary photo, and more. 

This means that if you are an Elite member with Celebrity thinking about taking your first-ever Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll be eligible for the same perks. 

Note that typically you earn a single cruise point for each night sailed with Royal Caribbean. This means that if you go on a 7-night cruise, you'll get seven cruise points. 

You can earn an  extra point per night by staying in a suite, or double points for traveling solo. Those cruising alone in a suite will earn three cruise points per night. 

It would take 12 week-long cruises to become a Diamond member in standard cabins, or six if you're staying in suites or traveling solo. 

CocoCay, smoking in the casino and more

During the webinar, Laura Hodges Bethge mentioned that adding Perfect Day at CocoCay to Celebrity itineraries was an easy decision.

One thing that loyal guests were asking for was a private destination, and since Celebrity Cruises does not have their own at this point in time, this was the easiest and fastest way to make it happen for their guests. 

With Coco Beach Club and the addition of Hideaway Beach in January 2024, there's something for those seeking either a relaxed day at an exclusive beachfront beach club or for adults wanting a fun day away from children.

Moreover, Zenith members, those who have reached the highest tier of Celebrity's Captain's Club, are able to access The Retreat Lounge effective immediately.

She did note, however, that since this perks was initially pulled back due to volume and capacity issues, there may be times that Zenith members will be offered an annexed space, rather than getting access to The Retreat Lounge.

Finally, while they did a test onboard two ships to see if they would allow smoking in the casino, Celebrity Cruises figured out that the majority of passengers are against this. Therefore, the casino onboard Celebrity ships will remain a no smoking (or vaping) area. 

Have you ever wondered what happens if you are late to get back to a ship?

The beauty of cruising is being able to visit multiple cities and countries in just a few days. Since cruises usually visit more than one destination, sailings are on a tight schedule to ensure their timeline is adhered to. Essentially, this means all guests must be on the ship at a certain time before leaving for the next stop on their voyage.

If you’ve cruised before, you know how entertaining it is to watch pier runners sprint to the ship at the last minute before leaving port. There always seems to be at least one person who frantically tries to make it back to the ship on time. Videos of pier runners are all over social media, especially TikTok (just type in “pier runners” and you will find hundreds of videos). It’s fun to watch other people be pier runners, but you do not ever want to be in this situation!

To avoid this from happening, cruise ships always inform passengers when the all-aboard time is to be back onboard by. It's a really good idea to get back to the ship even earlier than the all-abord time, just to be extra safe.

If you or your travel party are running late in port, you might be wondering how long the cruise ship would wait for you to get back. 

Captain Carl Graucob, who has worked for Royal Caribbean for 25 years, gave some insight into how long he would wait for passengers during a “Captain’s Corner” event on Voyager of the Seas. Here’s what you need to know.

It depends if you are on a Royal Caribbean excursion or not

As Captain Graucob explained, if you are on an excursion with Royal Caribbean, the ship will wait for the entire group to come back before leaving.

This is one of the many benefits of booking an excursion with Royal Caribbean rather than booking a tour with an independent company. You also know that the excursion is reputable when you book it directly through the cruise line.

Read more: Is it better to book excursions through the cruise ship?

Captain Graucob said that he would wait for passengers to return from a Royal Caribbean excursion unless it is an “unreasonable amount of time.”

In the case of an extremely lengthy delay, Captain Graucob stated that the ship might not always be able to wait for passengers. In this extenuating circumstance, Royal Caribbean would provide transportation to the next port of call or back to the departure port (if it is towards the end of your trip) for everyone on the excursion.

If you are not on a Royal Caribbean excursion and are late getting back to the ship, Captain Graucob said, “Normally, we do not wait.”

As such, you should always plan to be back by all-aboard time to prevent this from happening.

If the cruise ship knows you are missing, they will try to contact you

In the event that you do not board before the all-aboard time, the cruise ship will know you are missing. At this time, the ship will use the emergency contact information that you provided when checking in for your cruise. When providing an emergency contact, you must enter the information of someone who is not on the cruise with you.

Read more: Royal Caribbean check-in process

“If someone is missing, we call that emergency number,” Captain Graucob said. “Generally, this goes to someone at home.”

If you contact the ship using your own cell phone, or another phone you found in port, Captain Graucob said they will use this number to contact you. 

“If we get a hold of you and you say, ‘I am in the taxi. I am sorry, but there was traffic. I am 10 minutes away,’ then we will wait,” Captain Graucob said.

With this in mind, you should not rely on the cruise ship to wait an extra 10 minutes for you. Don’t push your luck!

If the cruise ship cannot get a hold of you, it will leave

If the ship cannot contact you to understand your whereabouts, it will leave you behind. This is because they don't know how long it is going to be until you get back. 

“You’re stuck waiting 15 minutes and then it becomes half an hour. Before you know it, an hour goes by and nobody shows up. So we do not wait,” Captain Graucob said.

Therefore, if you find yourself running behind, it’s best to contact Royal Caribbean to let the cruise ship know your situation. 

What happens if the cruise ship leaves you behind?

If you come back to the pier and see your cruise ship departed without you, there will be a port agent on the pier that can help you. You will not be left high and dry, although you won’t be in an ideal situation. 

If you need to get in touch with the port agent, there is contact information in every Cruise Compass. This is typically found under the “24-hour services and venues” section. You can also find the port agent information in the cruise line’s app. It’s best to always have this number handy when traveling ashore in case of an emergency. 

The port agent will provide you with whatever you need, especially since you will most likely not have more than just your swimming suit and a bag with random odds and ends.

You will be expected to purchase an airline ticket or other form of transportation on your own dime, and this can be very expensive. If you do not have a passport or other proper verification with you, you will want to visit the nearest U.S. embassy for assistance. For this reason, some cruisers choose to bring their passport ashore so they are never left without it. 

On the back of every SeaPass card is an emergency phone number to call Royal Caribbean. Be sure to call this number to see how they can help as well, as it might be another option to get in touch with your cruise ship.

Are there any penalties or warnings given if passengers are late to the ship?

“They're banned,” the captain joked. 

But in all seriousness, no. 

Captain Graucob explained again that cruise ships do not wait for late passengers, “unless we can get a hold of them and they tell us where they are. If it is reasonable, then we will wait. But no, there are no repercussions, other than if you miss the ship because then it is a big expense.”

Luckily, this worst-case scenario isn’t made worse with repercussions from Royal Caribbean. You won’t be blacklisted for future cruises! But, it’s a costly mistake you probably won’t make again. 

What you can do to avoid being late for your cruise ship

Here are the simple things to do to ensure this scenario never affects you.

1. Give yourself plenty of time to get back to the ship. If the all-aboard time is 5:30 p.m., plan to be back on the ship at 4:30 p.m. or earlier.

2. Do not venture too far from the port. If there is traffic or an accident that closes the road, you may not make it back to the ship on time. Try to stay close to the port so you can make it back quickly.

3. Make sure you are on ship time. Some cruises have multiple time zone changes throughout one voyage, so knowing what time the ship is on is extremely important. Sometimes the local time is different than the ship time.

4. Always have port agent information, identification, and money. Before you get off your cruise ship, make sure you take a picture of the port agent's information. Also, never leave the ship without a form of identification. You should also have money, especially a credit card in case you need to purchase an expensive ticket home or an emergency passport.

You'll need to be a little bit older to access the adults-only pool on your next Royal Caribbean cruise.

It looks like Royal Caribbean has changed the minimum age to access the Solarium area on its cruise ships.

In an update sent via email, the cruise line indicated it is responding to guest feedback by changing the minimum age.

Going forward, guests will need to be 18 years old or older to access the Solarium. Prior to this change, guests had to be at least 16 years old.

"At Royal Caribbean, our guests' feedback matters. This is why we have decided to keep our 'adults-only' areas consistent, and update the Solarium age restriction from 16+ to 18+ years old."

The update was sent to travel agents.

While the age limit has changed, kids are still allowed to walk through the Solarium, such as to access the Solarium Bistro restaurant.  The difference is they cannot stop and spend time in the venue or its pools.

Historically, a ship will waive the minimum age for cold weather cruises when the public pool for all guests is too cold, such as on Alaska cruises.

Why make the change?

The minimum age of 16 years old to access the Solarium has been in place for many years.

The subject of changing the minimum age has been a hot button topic for years, and it usually comes up as a question to Royal Caribbean executives on a Presidents Cruise event.

Perhaps related is the fact the change comes just a few months after the 2023 President's Cruise, when some guests voiced their concern regarding the minimum age in the Solarium.

It's not clear exactly why the change was made now after so many years with 16 being the minimum, other than "guest feedback".

One benefit of making the Solarium only available for 18 year olds or older is that aligns better with other adult-only areas. 

Some guests expressed frustration in that the Solarium allowed 16 and 17-year-olds, but the minimum age for adults at the new Hideaway Beach area of Perfect Day at CocoCay is 18 and above.

What is the Solarium?

The exact offerings depend on the ship, but inside the Solarium you will often find a pool, hot tub, seating area and a bar. Some ships have food inside the Solarium at a Park Cafe or Solarium Bistro location.

Another difference between the Solarium and the main pool are the loungers tend to be padded.

Some ships have a totally glass-enclosed Solarium area, while other ships are open-air. The glass keeps the heat in, and often, the Solarium is one of the warmest spots onboard.

On Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships, you'll find a greater variety of seating, included padded couches and other comfortable seating.

There is no additional cost to access the Solarium.

Reader reaction

With a topic like age restrictions, there's no shortage of opinions on Royal Caribbean's policy change.

Pippa Madden wrote, "I really had no idea it was such an issue."

Many readers celebrated the news, but questioned how effective it would be in terms of the rules being enforced. Tom Thomasson exemplified many comments, "About time. Now if they will enforce it."

There are a few well-known guest conduct policies that are policy on paper, but rarely enforced.  The so-called "chair hog" problem of guests reserving pool loungers, dress code in the main dining room, and curfew rules at select venues are examples of such long-standing gripes cruisers have with a lack of rule enforcement.

Read more: How to beat the chair hogs on your cruise ship

Ryan Longo thought the cruise line should have gone further, "Should be 21 but 18 is good enough."

There's a new way to spend your day by the pool on the newest Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Guests can now book an in-pool daybed on Icon of the Seas for an additional cost.

Royal Caribbean has added the new option to its Cruise Planner website, which are located in the Hideaway neighborhood.

The Hideaway is located on deck 15 above Surfside neighborhood , and it's essentially a beach club or Vegas pool party scene that the cruise line is going for. Access to The Hideaway is complimentary, but there are daybeds you can choose to rent.

The Hideaway Pool is the first suspended infinity pool at sea, and it's one of the signature options on Icon of the Seas.

You'll find tiered lounge space, hot tubs and a bar specializing in Champagne and Champagne-based cocktails.

Day bed options

There are two types of day beds, with the option to reserve them on port days or sea days.

Both types include amenities provided for up to 2 - 4 guests.

The cruise line warns daybeds are uncovered with limited access to shade.

In-Pool Day bed

The in-pool daybed are a full-sized daybeds which, "channel beach club party vibes at the first suspended infinity pool at sea."

It includes:

• Chilled champagne
• Bottled water
• Four pool towels
• A large tray for your personal items. 

Royal Caribbean describes it as, "Whether you're lounging with friends or jamming to the beat, these In-Pool Daybeds are your haven of comfort onboard. Your exclusive retreat awaits. Space is limited and may sell out — book yours today!"

Oceanview Daybed

The other option is an oceanview daybed, and as you might imagine, the difference is its location.

The amenities are the same, but offer full-size daybeds which overlook the ocean.

These include:

• (1) Champagne bottle (Insulated plastic bottle holder and ice bucket included)
• Branded souvenir champagne glasses
• (4) Pool towels
• (4) Bottles of water
• Side table for personal belongings
• Dedicated beverage service

Guests under the age of 18 will receive complimentary mocktails to substitute the champagne bottle.

Hideaway daybed prices

In comparing prices across multiple Icon of the Seas sailings, the prices for the daybeds in the Hideaway seem to be the same.

• The Hideaway In-Pool Daybed — Sea Day: $350
• The Hideaway Oceanview Daybed — Sea Day: $300
• The Hideaway In-Pool Daybed — Port Day: $250
• The Hideaway Oceanview Daybed — Port Day: $200

Pool deck option: casitas

Another option for a private retreat near a pool are the casitas, which are available on the pool deck.

Casitas have been offered on other Royal Caribbean cruise ships for an extra cost.  On Icon of the Seas, they will have an additional fee as well.

Located at Chill Island on Deck 16, casitas cost more than day beds, but also offer more included, like towels, a tabletop cooler, water bottles, a charging outlet, and dedicated bar service at the touch of a button. 

The full list of what you get for a casita on Icon of the Seas:

• Welcome drinks for all guests
• (8) Pool towels
• (8) Water bottles
• (2) Tabletop coolers
• Charging outlets
• Call-for-service button for dedicated beverage service
• Shaded and unshaded lounge seating

Amenities are provided for up to 6 - 8 guests.

Reader reactions

Since the new option appeared to book, cruise fans aren't surprised to see such a new extra cost option.

Xaa wrote, "Those beds will sell everyday.  People want them.  If they were free, the hogging and associated conflicts created would be constant. "

Gilley wasn't a fan just because of the lack of shade, "it’s in the sun, no umbrella.  I will pass."

asquared17 added, "I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel with spending money for what is essentially an island that anyone could swim up to and haul aboard."

A new kind of pool vibe

The Hideaway is a new type of neighborhood on a cruise ship, and Royal Caribbean thinks it will offer something very different than other pools.

A combination of music and location, The Hideaway is designed to offer a beach club experience.

"Perfectly perched in the center of the new Hideaway neighborhood and with its own resident DJ, it's the ultimate spot to keep the beach club vibes going all day. Designed with disappearing edges for seamless sunsets and full-sized daybeds surrounded by water, this signature suspended infinity pool will make for your most snap-worthy sea day yet."