Royal Caribbean Blog

A passenger injured during a jet ski excursion at Royal Caribbean's private island has filed a lawsuit seeking damages of more than $5 million. 

Jessica Haro was sailing aboard Icon of the Seas when she participated in a beginner-level jet ski excursion at Perfect Day at CocoCay on December 20, 2024, the last day of the 7-night cruise, reported Cruise Hive. 

Haro joined 12 other passengers and two guides for the excursion. However, things took a turn for the worse during the activity. 

She claimed she suffered four spinal fractures and extensive internal injuries after being hit by one of the guides at high speed. According to Haro, some injuries are permanent and require extra medical expenses. 

Because of the extent of her injuries, Haro and her attorney, Justin Shapiro of Lessfield & Partners in Miami, filed a federal lawsuit against Royal Caribbean on February 10, 2025. 

“In the course of the jet ski tour, Royal Caribbean’s tour guide, who was hired to protect Ms. Haro, suddenly and recklessly crashed his jet ski into the rear of Ms. Haro’s jet ski at a high rate of speed while trying to pass her," reads the suit.

“The tour guide ultimately drove his jet ski over the top of Ms. Haro’s jet ski, causing a violent impact with Ms. Haro’s body."

The suit further reveals that Haro didn't have much experience operating a personal watercraft. 

However, she "...decided to book the guided jet ski excursion based on [Royal Caribbean’s] effort in marketing the excursion as being ideal for novice operators and that no experience operating a personal watercraft was necessary.”

Jet skiing is a popular activity in the Bahamas

Royal Caribbean offers jet ski tours at its private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Since it is a private destination, there are no third-party operators to go through. 

According to Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner, the "Wave Jet Guided Tour" is a one-hour and fifteen-minute excursion where guests can ride alone or with a passenger. 

Each Seadoo can accommodate up to two passengers with a maximum combined weight of 375 lbs. The minimum age to drive a jet ski is 16, while passengers must be at least 10 years old.

"Beginners welcome - experienced guides will provide instructions and safety briefs to prepare you and your driver for the action," reads the tour's description. 

The excursion's details also warn guests not to consume alcohol before the tour, and passengers "with cardiac conditions, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, other heart or respiratory conditions, or any other medical condition must take particular caution when selecting an activity with snorkeling/swimming elements since such water activities could be subject to adverse sea conditions such as high winds, waves, and sea current."

It's not recommended for pregnant guests, either. 

All passengers who willingly decide to book and participate in Royal Caribbean's jet ski excursion must wear life jackets and complete liability waivers releasing the company and its employees from actions “arising from any accident [or] injury” concerning the “rental, participation, use, or operation of” a jet ski."

Not the first jet ski incident at CocoCay

Years before CocoCay became Perfect Day at CocoCay, a passenger sailing on the now-scrapped Monarch of the Seas was also injured while jet skiing at the private island. 

In 2013, claimant Linda Arnold filed a suit and a complaint for damages, alleging that Royal Caribbean was liable for the injuries she suffered during a jet-ski collision while visiting the island in 2011. 

Arnold and her boyfriend, Glynn Daniels, began to slow down on their jet ski after catching up to the ski ahead of theirs. However, Arnold and Daneisl were struck by a jet ski operated by another passenger, and Arnold suffered injuries as a result of the accident. 

Royal Caribbean sought to limit its liability due to the liability waiver; however, a United States District judge ruled the waiver was void due to provisions that limited liability for personal injuries caused by negligence.

When you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise, there's all sorts of extras you can buy for it, and a few are must-buys that at one point I scoffed at.

I'm lucky that it's my job to try out different things Royal Caribbean offers in order to evaluate how useful it is.  After all, one of the most common questions I get from readers about anything the cruise line does is, "is it worth it?".

I prefer to mix up my repertoire of cruise experiences and I really try not to do the same thing on every sailing, especially when I'm on the same ship or going on the same itinerary again.

Over the years, I've come to truly love certain extras the cruise line offers and it's unusual if I go on a cruise and don't have all of them booked.

I came up with a list of four things I always buy now, even though I probably at one point wasn't sure I'd ever like it. But they turned out to be so good, that they have nearly permanent spots in my online shopping cart before I go onboard

Cabana rentals

Many years ago I tried my first cabana when my good friend, supporter of this site, and travel partner, Beci Mahnken from MEI Travel invited me to her hilltop cabana at Labadee.

Cabanas are available for rent during the day at either Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, and they have a flat cost for up to a certain amount of people to use it.

I was so impressed by the furnishings, level of service provided, and privacy it included. When my kids were younger, it was the perfect base of operations for my family.

Royal Caribbean has slowly added more cabana types to different places across its private destinations.  Most recently, I tried the Hideout Cabanas at the Hideaway Beach Club.

This cabana is located within the adults-only area, and having your own plunge pool is just about my favorite thing ever.

The problem with cabanas is their popularity is no secret, and demand has been so high that prices have skyrocketed in recent years.

I admit I don't always buy a cabana, but I at least look.  I've found with some careful planning in advance, you can sometimes nab a cabana for a better price with the right sale.

Spa treatments

I asked my wife what's something she swears by now on a cruise, and her answer was the Vitality Spa.

There are all sorts of treatments you can buy at the spa, and she really enjoys going in for a massage.  It's a way to treat herself, as well as set herself up for a relaxing vacation.

I think the best approach is to pre-book online to lock in a good time and good price.  Plus, there's no issue with any sales push to book more appointments or longer ones.

Her favorite treatments are either the traditional Swedish massage or a hot rock massage.

I think a lot of people that cruise often have a few "traditions" that they do and it officially kicks off a cruise, and the spa is one for my wife.

Air2Sea

For years I resisted booking my flights through Royal Caribbean because I thought the service fee negated any perceived savings.

I was really wrong.

You can book a flight through Royal Caribbean after you have a cruise booked.  You can do it on your own or your travel agent can do it for you.

Last year I had a cruise booked that departed Panama.  I booked my own flight and paid for non-refundable air fare because I was certain I was going on the sailing.

Then Royal Caribbean cancelled the Panama Canal transit, and I thought the new itinerary was lackluster. So I cancelled the cruise I was certain I was going on, and ended up with a giant airfare bill.

If I had booked with Air2Sea, I would have been covered.

In addition, Royal Caribbean regularly subsidizes airfare to Europe and Alaska when you book in advance through Air2Sea.

For my upcoming European cruises this summer, I saved almost $2,000 by booking my flights with Air2Sea instead of directly with the airline. I was amazed how much I saved, because I always though booking directly was cheaper.

Did you know you can book a flight with Air2Sea and not pay a penny until your cruise final payment date? This is a huge advantage for families that want to budget out their trip and split up payments.

The Air2Sea website used to be more wonky to use, but it's gotten better recently.

For the money savings alone, I'll book my flights with Royal Caribbean.  Plus, it offers some protections too.

Royal Railway

When Royal Caribbean announced it was going to build an immersive dining experience, I thought I'd definitely try it once. I never thought it would join my "must-eat there all the time" list.

Royal Railway at Utopia Station is a simulated classic train car dinner, where you board a full-size replica train. Using technology, sounds, and even a little motion, it feels like you're transported to The Old West.

The implementation was great, and I thought they did such a good job evoking the look and feel of what a train car of that era looks like. 

Plus, the food is really good too and I could eat the braised short ribs, empanadas, and pretty much any dessert on the menu!

It wasn't until I got onboard and experienced it for myself that I truly got it.  I think when Royal Caribbean finally rolls out additional themes and menus, this is going to be a revolutionary restaurant.

Whereas I tried Empire Supper Club on Icon of the Seas and felt content, Royal Railway is something I wanted to go back to again and again.

Royal Caribbean is going to offer more cruise ships, from more cruise ports on the West Coast of the United States.

The cruise line released new sailings from California that includes a shakeup of its lineup, along with a new homeport.

Beginning in October 2026, Royal Caribbean will homeport a ship in San Diego.

Serenade of the Seas will offer a variety of sailings from San Diego down to Ensenada, Mexico and the Mexican Riviera.

Other than a repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal, Royal Caribbean has not used San Diego as a homeport for a long time. This marks an expansion for the cruise line to a second homeport in California.

Two other Royal Caribbean ships will call California home as well in the 2026-2027 cruise season.

Voyager of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas will be based out of Los Angeles (San Pedro), and also offer cruises to the Mexican Riviera.

For the first time since 2021, Navigator of the Seas will not sail from LA, and instead, Voyager will take her place.

Navigator is headed to Asia for her regular maintenance work, and then is rumored to be sailing from Australia.

Voyager of the Seas will offer a mix of 3- to 7-night cruises from Los Angeles to destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, and Mazatlan.

Ovation of the Seas will mirror what Voyager has, and be a second ship based from LA.

Ovation is even bigger than Voyager, and is best known for its entertainment and dining choices onboard.

Quantum Class ships also offer more modern amenities, including the North Star observation pod, a skydiving simulator, and an enclosed SeaPlex, which features activities like bumper cars and roller skating.

The new sailings are available to book immediately.

Best things to try on Mexican Riviera cruise

The West Coast of Mexico is unlike so much of the rest of Mexico, especially if you're only used to Cozumel.

The Mexican Riviera extends south from California, and is best known for its rich cultural and culinary choices, beautiful beaches, and scuba diving.

Here's what you could try in each of the ports.

Ensenada

Ensenada is located quite close to the United States, and while it's not the most popular port in Mexico, there's more to do here if you look past the tourist bars.

It's home to a natural wonder, La Bufadora, which is a natural geyser that you can see and hear.

There's also many wineries in the area that are highly regarded.

And yes, there's a big party scene here, so if that's your thing, try Hussong's Cantina. It's famous for being where the margarita was invented, and is the oldest and best known cantina in Baja California, Mexico.

Catalina Island

An island retreat across from Los Angeles, Catalina Island is the perfect spot to enjoy shopping and dining.

The most popular activity is to rent a golf cart and explore the island on your own.

Cabo San Lucas

There's so much to try in Cabo, especially if you book a cruise that overnights here.

Whale watching is popular to spot migrating humpback whales between December and April.

Swimming and golf are popular too, along with a visit to Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo tequila bar.

Mazatlan

The "old town" of Mazatlan is the most famous spot in this city, which has a number of historic sites from the cities origins.

If history isn't your thing, there's plenty of beaches to enjoy as well. You can walk down the 10-mile long seaside promenade and enjoy the ocean and nearby shops or restaurants.

Puerto Vallarta

Known for its culinary delights as well as colonial history, Puerto Vallarta is where so many Americans living on the West Coast vacation because its beaches and offerings are so good.

You could go to El Centro and explore arguably the best food in Mexico, or head to one of the many beach resorts with a day pass.

More cruises to be announced in coming weeks

Royal Caribbean is on the precipice of releasing many more cruises.

Following the newly released California cruises, we can expect a steady stream of new releases as follows:

• Week of February 17, 2025: Europe 2.0
• Week of February 24, 2025: Short Caribbean
• Week of March 3, 2025: Seasonal Caribbean
• Week of March 10, 2025: China
• Week of March 17, 2025: Singapore
• Week of June 2, 2025: Australia 

Keep in mind that Royal Caribbean has changed its deployment schedule quite a few times already, so this schedule is subject to change.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas has gotten so much praise as the new best cruise ship for families, that a lot of people are eager to give it a try.

I've taken my family on Icon and absolutely loved it.  In fact, it's my new favorite ship and I'll be back onboard for spring break.

A reddit user posted their thoughts on Icon, outlining exactly what they liked, didn't like, and tips for best enjoying this ship for anyone else going on.

Getting outside perspectives is a great way to learn about different ways a ship stands out, as well as get feedback on what worked and didn't work.

Here's the critiques and thoughts Ten_Horn_Sign shared about his recent Icon of the Seas sailing from last week.

Icon is well put together

Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world, and some people might think they'd never know where to go on a ship like that.

But Ten_Horn_Sign found the ship easy to navigate and the ideas incorporated into the ship design were fantastic, "the boat is super easy to navigate, there are ample plugs in the room for charging stuff, there is plenty of storage in the room for suitcases and clothes."

They pointed out was "lots of hand wringing" about how to maximize an inside cabin, but they didn't think it applied necessarily to rooms on Icon.

Everything flows well on Icon

Something else Royal Caribbean seemingly got right with Icon was the logistics of the ship.

"The ability of the cruise line to move people is really quite amazing," they wrote.

"On embarkation day we showed up at 1, strolled through the port with 0 lines, walked right onto the ship, and went straight to our cabin."

While some advocated they should arrive earlier than their assigned time, Ten_Horn_Sign felt rolling in at 1pm allowed for an effortless check-in and embarkation process.

"But boarding the ship at ports of call, going through security, moving luggage etc - this industry seems to have logistics nailed down. Shocked at how efficient they are, really amazed."

"The greatest customer service I've ever experienced"

Another thing that stood out about Icon was how good the crew members were in the Main Dining Room at dinner.

Specifically, it was the personalized service that stood out and how much they went above and beyond to cater to their family.

• On day one we went to the main dining room and our travel companion asked to order a cocktail, which they don't serve in the MDR. On day two when we were seated, they'd placed a cocktail menu there for him.
• One of the kids really liked a specific variety of the buns in the bread basket; at the kids' end of the table, they filled the basket with that specific bun.
• One of the kids just wanted mashed potatoes for dinner (not on the menu) - no problem, we will get you mashed potatoes

Ten_Horn_Sign summed it up, "the personalized service was like nothing I've ever experienced and was really truly memorable."

What it was like going to the medical facility

One of the kids had to go to Icon's medical facility.

Every cruise ship has a doctor, nurses, and medical bay onboard to handle minor issues. 

After their kid had an allergic reaction, the medical staff took care of the child and gave him steroids and antihistamines and made a follow up check up to see and re-dose the steroids.

The cost for the visit was $264.

Unfortunately, the same kid had to go back again for a second visit after accidentally slicing his toe on the cabin door.

"They cleaned it with a disinfectant and bandaged it, and the ship's safety officer contacted us to file a report, so I gather they take this quite seriously. I don't think I was charged for this, as injuries on the ship are treated for free (as they should be)."

Crew worked hard on ship upkeep

Something else Ten_Horn_Sign was impressed by on Icon of the Seas was how hard the crew worked to keep this new ship looking brand new.

"I saw with my own eyes workers on their knees scrubbing stains out of carpets, or using tiny paintbrushes to touch up scuffed or scratched walls. I watched them disinfect and hose down the Surfside grill. I watched them remove the ice cream machines from the Sprinkles cubicles and clean behind them."

"They deep clean daily and it shows."

Shows were amazing

Royal Caribbean's wheelhouse has traditionally been entertainment, and the shows on Icon did not disappoint.

" Why does nobody ever talk about Effectors? The story was childish but man, the show is great - synchronized drones? Lasers? That effect where Pixel is duplicating herself with copies appearing behind the moving screen? This show was GREAT!"

"We also saw Adam Kario. If you'd tried to get me to pay to see a juggler I'd have rolled my eyes. But that would be my loss - his show was brilliant and funny and the kids and I both loved it."

Too much technology

Onto the the things Ten_Horn_Sign didn't enjoy about Icon, starting with the tech onboard.

"Too much technology, too poorly implemented," is how they described it.

One issue they had was with touchless buttons to open doors, which was problematic with kids in public bathrooms.  

"I understand, post-Covid, why touchless everything sounds good. But honestly, the touchless systems on this ship are downright irritating."

They also were frustrated by the Wowbands onboard, where one kid's band didn't work at all on the arcades, even after two visits to customer service and one replacement bracelet. 

"Cabin door sensors are terrible"

Ten_Horn_Sign claims their stateroom door key worked "10% of the time".

"I don't mean that I was locked out, but I would scan my card and get "red" 9 times out of ten before finally being granted access to my room."

Hard to find quiet areas

Another complaint was there weren't many quiet spaces, lamenting the lack of a library.

Royal Caribbean experimented on Icon with no library on Icon. In general, however, their issue was finding areas to chill.

"A chill lounge would be nice."

Issue with spa billing

One other problem on Icon related to how they were billed for a spa treatment.

My wife and our cruise companion both went to the spa and both had the same treatments. Our cruise companion had won a $50 spa voucher on the ship. "Somehow" the same treatments resulted in a $70 bill for my wife and a $100 bill for our companion. 

So beware that if you think you've got a voucher for something discounted, the ship may just jack up the base charge to avoid giving you much at all.

Icon of the Seas tips and tricks

To round out their review, Ten_Horn_Sign shared some quick tips for anyone cruising on Icon of the Seas.

• There's a black plastic tab on the shower temperature lever you have to depress that lets you go hotter than the child-safe limit.
• Buy champagne by the glass, not the bottle.
• You can control the cabin's light, temperature, and even television with the Royal Caribbean app.
• Surfside restaurant serves a typical "American" breakfast without the lines of the Windjammer.
• Refreshment package is a waste for kids: "In hindsight, strongly wish I'd passed on the drink package; I'd have saved a few hundred bucks and had the exact same experience."

Be sure to check out our own list of ways to master your time on Icon of the Seas.

If you're going to book a cruise, you might be better off with a sailing that has less time visiting an island or city.

Cruises are renowned for how convenient it is to visit multiple places in a single week. It almost feels magical how you can go to sleep and wake up in a different place.

What I've found after so many years of cruising on all sorts of ships is Royal Caribbean is getting really good at designing and building its vessels to be floating destinations. The result is it competes for your time with where you visit.

In the old days of cruising, sea days were seen as an escape to bask in the sun and enjoy a break from it all. While that's still the case, there's so much more to do on a ship than lay out on a lounger.

With so much to do on ships today, you'd be right to feel conflicted about wanting to try everything onboard versus what you can do on shore.

While there's nothing wrong with picking a cruise that has a lot of port stops, ultimately you get to enjoy your vacation the way you want to, and there's so much waiting for you on the ship.

Before you book your next cruise, here are 7 reasons I think you might want to avoid booking a cruise with lots of ports.

You'll feel more relaxed and refreshed

Exploring ports of call is a lot of fun, but it's also exhausting.

Have you ever heard the complaint, "I need a vacation from the vacation"? It means they had fun, but it wasn't the relaxing break they may have hoped for initially.

With more sea days, you can sleep in and more importantly, not exert yourself nearly as much as in a port of call. 

Most shore excursions involve early starts and plenty of physical activity. Even just going to the beach involves a lot of physical exertion, especially if you're in the ocean.

On a sea day, you have much more flexibility in how you spend your day. 

You could go to the spa for a treatment, read a book on deck, work on your tan, or enjoy time in the pool.

There's no question a sea day means you'll likely have much more time to take things easy.

More time to do all the things on your ship

Just looking at a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and you'll see all sorts of things you want to try, so more time on the ship allows you the chance to do it all.

This is especially true on the new ships, such as the Icon Class, Oasis Class, or Quantum Class.

You have just a few days on your ship, and there's no way to see, do, and eat everything you wanted to if you're on a port intensive cruise.

With next-gen ships like Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, Royal Caribbean is offering so much more than ever onboard.

These big ships have so much you can do onboard, such as zip lines, FlowRider surf simulators, water slides, rock climbing walls, and more. 

Icon of the Seas has an entire water park, you can feel like you're sky diving on Odyssey of the Seas, and experience the energy of an aqua show on the Oasis Class.

Plus there's so many more activities to discover on every ship during a sea day. There's sushi making classes, all sorts of trivia, or dance competitions.

Royal Caribbean doesn't offer nearly as many activities on port days because there aren't enough passengers on the ship to warrant it.

Fewer days docked means more time in the casino

If you enjoy gambling, then more sea days means more time you can do just that.

Royal Caribbean casinos can only be open when a ship is in international waters (except for CocoCay), so if you're on a port intensive itinerary, the casino won't be open for long.

This is more problematic on a day when your ship is in port late at night.  It takes some time for the ship to drop its lines, depart the port, and get out to open waters before the casino can open.

This is especially important for anyone that is counting on free drinks in the casino because they have accrued status within Casino Royale's loyalty program.

More sea days adds far more value for a nicer cabin

One of the most debated topics is if it's worth it to spend more on a balcony or suite, and if you have more sea days, the decision could be a lot easier.

If you have more time to spend in your room, that means more value from the price of nicer stateroom.

You'd have more time to spend on your balcony taking in the views, ocean breeze, and relaxing.  Reading a book on a ship balcony is another idea too.

Inside your room, you'll have more opportunity to hang out and enjoy the extra space this cabin affords.  

If you splurged for a suite, sea days are perfect for maximizing all the space and extra perks you get with a suite.

Not only do suites have more space, but you can use special suite-only amenities, such as the suite sun deck, suite lounge, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and more.

One of my favorite suite benefits is to order food from the Main Dining Room to be delivered to your suite at no additional cost.

While booking a suite is always going to be expensive, I think it takes the bite out of the cost if you know you'll be able to fully utilize the suite and what it comes with.

Less days on shore means you can maximize a drink package

The price of a Royal Caribbean drink package is not cheap, but more time on the ship means more chances to get your daily value from it.

I believe a beverage package can absolutely save you money on drink costs, but it requires you to drink enough to make it worthwhile.  To that point, you need to be onboard for it.

If you're galivanting around in port, that's less time in the day to order a drink and "break even" on the drink package cost.

In my experience, it takes about 6 drinks a day to break even on a drink package, and the more you can space those drinks out, the easier it is to get your money's worth.

If you were on a 7-night Southern Caribbean cruise that has port stops all but one day of the cruise, that leaves you very little time on the ship considering you'll be ashore instead.

While many of the points in this article might be argumentative, there's no denying it's easier to make a drink package work for you if you have a lot of sea days instead of port days.

More chances to enjoy onboard restaurants

Just like the drink package, more time on the ship means more chances to eat at different restaurants.

The most port intensive itineraries are found in Alaska and Europe, and often the all aboard time isn't until the early evening.  If you're like, you'll want to eat a lot ashore in these amazing places and that means skipping dinner on the ship.

Royal Caribbean not only includes a great deal of food with your cruise fare, but they also offer specialty dining options at an additional cost to try.

You could buy a dining package to save money on specialty restaurants, and it's far easier to do that with a lot of sea days.

Depending on your ship, there are a lot of different restaurants to try out. I can't resist hitting up the sushi, Italian, or burger spots on any Royal Caribbean ship.

Heck, if you're on a ship like Icon of the Seas, there are more restaurants to try than days you're onboard for one sailing.

Kids get to make new friends

One aspect of cruising I always liked is it's the only kind of vacation where my kids actually meet other children and make friends.

The kids club on a Royal Caribbean ship is a win for parent and child alike.  

For the kids, they get to play games and meet other kids.  Most will be passing acquaintances, but sometimes they make a new friend for that sailing.

As a parent, dropping my kids off at Adventure Ocean was a great safety net.  I knew they would be cared for while having a good time.  Meanwhile, my wife and I could enjoy things onboard we wanted to do.

And whether they make friends or not, Adventure Ocean is a lot of fun.

You can register your kids for Adventure Ocean on the first day, and then easily drop them off every day and night.

Royal Caribbean gives passengers in standard the cabin of what time of day to have their room cleaned, and I always pick the evening option.

You used to get twice a day cabin attendant service up until a few years ago, and then it was cut to just once per day.

I thought I'd hate the change more than I actually did, but I made my peace with it and I've adjusted to it.  While I might have liked the old way, the new once a day service didn't impact my enjoyment of the cruise nearly as much as I thought it would.

Since the change was implemented, I've tried both morning and evening stateroom service and I think I greatly prefer evening service.

It's not perfect, but I find it meshes better with my cruising style.

Choice of morning or evening

If you book a balcony or lower category cabin, your stateroom attendant will service your room once per day. Guests in a suite still get it twice a day.

The choice is in the morning hours or in the evening, around dinner time.

In either case, the cabin attendant will be available for a few hours, so it's not a specific time.  

Regardless of which time you pick, if you need extra towels or something else replenished in your cabin, the cabin attendant (or housekeeping) is happy to step in and assist. 

If you're still in the room for the duration of their service, they'll just skip that day and return to clean it the next day.

I prefer evening service because I'm probably out of the room

In choosing which time I want to my room cleaned, I always choose the evening because it lines up better with my schedule.

Ideally, I want a time that's the most convenient for me.  I'm on vacation, so I'm looking for something that doesn't put me out of my own way.

I like evening service because I'm rarely in my cabin after 5pm.  I'm either at dinner, at a show, at a bar, or out with friends.

Room stewards usually begin working the evening shift around 4pm, and they're out and about until 7pm.  That gives me plenty of time to get ready for dinner and be out of their way.

Most of the time, I'm gone before they even start up.

I also really like coming back to my room at night when my nighttime fun is complete and having a freshly made bed.

I'm a fan of taking afternoon naps on cruise ships, so it's nice that I can take a nap and then my bed is made for me before it's time to go to sleep that night.  It's part of the je ne sais quoi that makes a cruise vacation so much better than a land vacation.

Another advantage of evening service is if you're at the beach and come back to the room to shower, there's inevitably going to be sand coming back with you.  

It's nicer to have the bathroom cleaned after a day in the ocean.

Morning service means I feel rushed to get up and going

My problem with morning service is it hinders sleeping in.

Cabin attendants get working right around 8am or so, and they'll wrap up just before lunch. On a sea day, I might want to sleep in and lounge in my bed for a bit.  

Or I'm at my desk doing work, and the morning is the busiest time for keeping up with my work routine.

And then there's my kids, who think waking up before 10:30am on vacation is a criminal act. So getting them up and out of the room for the room attendant requires an act of God to accomplish.

Essentially, morning service feels like I'm going out of my way so they can get in and clean.

"So what! Sleep in and skip that day" is I'm sure what someone reading this is thinking.  While that's true, my family goes through clean towels like Pringles potato chips. 

And if I'm being honest, I really like my bed made up and sheets changed.

The problem with choosing evening service is apparent in the first two days

While I always pick evening service, there's a notable problem with it that is magnified on short cruises.

Your room isn't serviced again on the first day.  The cabin attendant prepared it for you prior to your arrival, so that counts as the daily cleaning for that day.

The issue is if you pick evening service, you won't have your room service until the evening of day two.  That means you'll go about 36 hours or so before your first cleaning.

If you take a shower on the first day and want to shower again on day two, towels go quickly. Obviously you can re-use towels or even call and get more towels later from housekeeping.  But it always feels like my cabin gets extra messy leading up to that.

This is more of a problem on a short 3-night cruise, where the end of day two is essentially more than halfway through your cruise.

This is the very definition of a first world problem, but it's probably the main downside to my strategy in choosing when my room is cleaned.

I always choose evening service because it's the least bothersome

Ultimately, I go with evening turndown because it's the most convenient option.

I don't think most people want to go out of their way while on vacation, and I find evening service affords me the most flexibility because I'm very likely out of the room anyway.

At the same time, I don't think picking morning service is problematic or a mistake to avoid.  Rather, I think evening service just works better given the reality of what's happening on the ship.  If I'm not going to be in the cabin, that's always the perfect time for someone to clean it.

I started booking rooms on lower decks instead (less dependence on elevators, convenient to walk to dining rooms and promenade, a little cheaper)

Unlike hotels on land, you can pick if room is on a higher or lower level of the cruise ship.

The more I've cruised, the less I've cared about which deck my cabin is on, but I definitely stopped paying extra to be on a higher deck.

I cruise on a monthly basis, and that affords me the time to get on ships and my views have definitely changed as to which deck I prefer to be on.

Like many aspects of a cruise, the better option depends on your needs and tastes. But if someone is brand new to a cruise and wants to know if it's better to be on high or low on a cruise ship, I'd recommend a lower one for a few reasons.

I thought having a better view mattered

I always wanted cabins on a high deck when I started cruising because I equated it like a hotel building, where the better view on a higher floor is worth it every time.

What I discovered as I cruised was the view you had wasn't as important as I thought.

One truth of any cabin is I find I spend very little time in it.  Cruise ships have so much to do onboard that I'm drawn away to the activities.

The result is your cruise cabin is usually for sleeping, showering, and changing. That realization was the first step in rethinking where my room would be.

Something else I noticed when I'd visit someone else's cabin is the difference in view between a higher deck and a lower deck really isn't that much different.

Cruise ships are big, but they're not skyscrapers either. I just don't think you're getting that much more elevation to make a significant difference.

Probably the top reason I started to rethink a cabin on a high deck is the dependence you'll have on elevators.

Other than Icon of the Seas, the elevators on all cruise ships get crowded and in-demand quite quickly. 

Waiting for an elevator is a gamble each time if you'll get one soon or end up waiting for what seems like forever.  Royal Caribbean's Product Development team calls this "microwave minutes" because the time you wait in front of a microwave to make food always seems to take forever.

Obviously I can, and have, taken the stairs to bypass the elevator.  But there are situations where that's nearly impossible, like when you get back on the ship after a shore excursion and you're on deck 1 and need to get to your cabin on deck 12. 

I started booking rooms on lower decks instead

That dependence on elevators was probably the impetus to try a cabin on a lower deck.

A few years ago I was sailing on Mariner of the Seas and told me travel agent I'd like a room closer to the Royal Promenade.  I ended up with a cabin on deck 6, just one room up from the Promenade.

It felt strange, but I instantly fell in love with its location.

I was able to walk and take the stairs to the Royal Promenade, Main Dining Room, Theater, Schooner Bar, and Casino without needing to wait for an elevator.

I found it so convenient to be able to get to my room when I needed.

The real benefit of a higher deck cabin is the pool

If there's one good reason to book a room on a higher deck, it's to be close to the pool deck.

Royal Caribbean always has its pool up on the highest decks.  The same is true for the Windjammer buffet, and even the kids club can be found near the pools on nearly all ships.

If you're someone that loves to spend a lot of time around the pool, there's a compelling reason to pick a cabin on a high deck.

When my kids were younger, it was undeniably convenient to have the buffet and Adventure Ocean close by.  When we cruised on Anthem of the Seas and Adventure Ocean is on the same deck as guest cabins on deck 14, it felt like we had such a convenience being there.

Someone that loves to spend most of their day near the pool might find the convenience factor  of being near the pool a good reason to be on a higher deck.

Plus, being on a high deck means you are also closer to specialty restaurants, fun activities, and the jogging track.

Itinerary matters

I would book a cabin on a higher deck if I was sailing to Alaska or the Norwegian fjords.

Part of what makes these itineraries special is the fact you get to sail past waterfalls, glaciers, and into fjords. 

The best place to see the view is up on the pool deck on a high deck.  Being at a higher vantage point truly makes a difference.

In Alaska, so many times you'll be compelled to run up and see what you're passing next.  It's far easier to do this if your cabin is just a deck or two away from the pool.

In the Caribbean, I think it matters less having that view.  

Is it bad to be on a really low deck?

Some cruisers are concerned with being booked in a cabin on the lowest decks, such as a cabin on deck 2.

Rooms on a low deck near the waterline are often the cheapest in price, and that makes some people question why.

You'll only find inside and oceanview cabins on the lowest decks.  Balcony cabins don't usually start appearing until perhaps deck 6. Since there are only small cabins here, they're going to cost less.

Similar to a cabin on a very high deck, you're far more dependent on the elevator on deck 2 to get around the ship.

You're less likely to get seasick on a low deck

This is a generalization, but you're less likely to get motion sick on a lower deck than a higher deck.

The best place to be to minimize the effects of seasickness are on a low deck, midship. 

That isn't to say you're automatically going to get seasick if you book a cabin near the top of the ship.  Rather, if the ship is rocking, the feeling might be less noticeable if your room is closer to a low deck.

If you're sensitive to motion, it might be worse on a high deck, if you're not, then it probably won't be noticeable to you anyway.

There's not as much difference as you'd think

I've spelled out the major considerations, but don't overthink the issue as I don't think being higher or lower on a cruise ship matters as much as new cruisers think it does.

All decks have their reasons to book it or not.  I'd pay more attention to the cabins to avoid booking than the specific deck number. There are definitely better cabin locations to consider than the exact deck.

In some cases, you won't have a choice.  Suites are almost always located at a very high deck, whereas inside cabins tend to be on lower decks.  

Royal Caribbean is ready to resume opening up new cruises to book in 2026-2027 in just a few days.

Cruisers can book new California sailings earlier thanks to Royal Caribbean's latest deployment schedule change. 

Royal Caribbean's deployment schedule refers to when the cruise line will open new sailings for booking. Each release is tied to a specific region, such as Short Caribbean, Europe, and California. 

California cruises from April 2026 to April 2027 will be announced during the week of February 10. However, the launch of new European cruises has been delayed to sometime during the week of February 17.

Last week, Royal Caribbean offered a preview of what's to come, including Serenade of the Seas departing from San Diego. Based on these test load sailings, here's what we can likely expect.  Keep in mind the exact line-up might differ, but this is our best guess.

The test load itinerary departs from San Diego on March 28, 2027, and stops in La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, and Ensenada, Mexico. 

Other sailings expected to debut include Voyager of the Seas, which will replace Navigator of the Seas. The Ports America Los Angeles website schedule shows Voyager arriving in California on October 5, 2026, with Navigator disappearing from the schedule in November. 

A test load itinerary revealed that Voyager of the Seas will offer an 8-night cruise from Los Angeles on November 5, 2026, with an overnight stay in Cabo. 

The California deployment will also unveil Royal Caribbean's plans for Quantum and Ovation of the Seas, both of which will debut in California in 2025.

The Quantum Class ships are larger than Navigator and Voyager of the Seas. Plus, they offer more modern amenities, including the North Star observation capsule, a skydiving simulator, and an enclosed SeaPlex, which features activities like bumper cars and roller skating.

Like with Voyager, the Ports America Los Angeles schedule shows Oviation on the manifest through December 2026. 

However, effective October 2026, it's hinted that Royal Caribbean will relocate Quantum of the Seas, leaving Ovation as the sole Quantum Class ship offering cruises from California. 

Royal Caribbean returned to Los Angeles after a decade-long break

The company's re-entry into the California market was successful. Executives confirmed that Navigator of the Seas' cruises have performed "exceptionally well." 

As such, Royal Caribbean is strengthening its presence on the West Coast by adding another departure port in California and introducing new ships sailing from Los Angeles.

The latest deployment changes

Royal Caribbean revised its deployment schedule at the end of January, placing new Australia cruises on hold. They eventually updated the schedule to give Australia cruises a new date. Now, they'll be released during the week of June 2. 

Another change affected the Seasonal Caribbean cruises, which were delayed from the week of February 24 to March 3. They were initially slated to launch around Feb. 17.

The newest update swapped Europe 2.0 and California cruises. 

What about Icon 3?

There hasn't been any published news about the third Icon Class ship, which is set to debut in 2026. 

However, Royal Caribbean typically doesn't include new ships as part of its regular deployment schedule. Instead, they usually have their own release. 

So, don't bank on the unnamed ship's release being part of the Europe 2.0, Short Caribbean, or Seasonal Caribbean launches. 

Royal Caribbean will likely release the ship's name and homeport, along with a special date exclusive to the new ship's bookings, separately.

What was it like to have been on a cruise ship before they became giant?

Cruise ships have changed a lot over the decades, but the era of the megaship truly did not begin until the late 1980s.

Prior to the launch of Sovereign of the Seas in 1987, cruise ships were plenty big, but not anywhere near the size they are today.

Sovereign of the Seas entered service in 1988 and not only became the world's biggest cruise ship, but revolutionized the industry because of how large she was and all that she offered. It set off a new generation of cruise ship design and extends to today.

Prior to the arrival of Sovereign, Royal Caribbean ships definitely looked different. Granted, everything looked different in the 1970s and 1980s compared to today.

In scouring photos of what it was like on a cruise ship pre-1988, you can see the experience focused primarily on relaxing onboard and the places you could visit.  Aside from fashion choices, I think you'll see more in common with today's cruises than different.

A fun escape to warm climates

The way Royal Caribbean marketed its cruise ships in the first half of its life focused on attracting people to a vacation that was all about warm weather and good times.

The marketing material in the early '80s was all about the places you could see and the different ways you could enjoy your day on ship and on shore.

Cruise ships weren't yet the destination in a sense, so Royal Caribbean played up the adventure you could have on a cruise vacation.

"Long, lazy days of sun, sea, music and entertainment, and just plain R and R," is what one advertisement read.

"Days of cruising from island to island, from Mexican temples to Jamaican gardens, without ever re-packing your toothbrush."

Royal Caribbean had a small fleet of cruise ships prior to the introduction of the Sovereign Class.

Their fleet consisted of:

• Song of Norway
• Song of America
• Nordic Prince
• Sun Viking

You could book a Royal Caribbean cruise for seven, eight, ten, or fourteen nights in length, year-round from Miami.

Cruises back then visited Jamaica, Cozumel, Barbados, and Caracas. Ships departed on Saturday or Sunday, and each ship was designed specifically for the Caribbean market.

Ship life

When you look at vintage photos of cruise ships, I think you can see the roots of many things we take for granted today.

With every new Royal Caribbean ship they built, the line learned important lessons of what its customers were looking for, and one major focus was the pool deck.

Ships featured wide expanses on pool decks, as well as spacious and colorful lounges and dining rooms.

One of the major selling points of a cruise was doing nothing at all and enjoying a break from work.

Of course, there was plenty to do on the ship too.

There was plenty of activities and evening entertainment too. Just like modern cruise ships, there were places to shop, shows onboard, and plenty of food.

In fact, these ships still had a kids club onboard.  

Royal Caribbean has always been a family cruise line, and that's been an attractive option for adults that they can bring their kids and everyone has something to do.

Kids camp included ice cream socials, pizza parties, games, masquerades, and movies.

It was available for kids between the age of 5 to 18 on Song of America.

Cabins were small, but functional

Another consistency between ships of today versus the past are the cabin.

While decor and aesthetics have changed, cruise cabins were small back then, just like today.

New cruisers might be surprised how much smaller a standard cabin is compared to a hotel room. That's largely so that there's more space on the ship for public areas and activities.

You'd find the basics in an inside room on a cruise ship back then, and if you can look past the 1980s styling, it's not that much different from today's rooms.

A fun focus on dining

My favorite thing to look back on is what it was like to go to dinner on a Royal Caribbean cruise pre-1990.

I'm not someone who complains everything was better "back in the day", but I can appreciate the differences to today.

There were two seatings for all three meals in the Main Dining Room:

• Breakfast
  • 7:30am
  • 8:45am
• Lunch
  • 12:00pm
  • 1:30pm
• Dinner
  • 6:30pm
  • 8:30pm

Dinner themes included Italian, French, Caribbean, and "America The Beautiful".

A description of dress codes in a 1981 pamphlet for Song of Norway recommends, "For ladies, cocktail dresses and pantsuits are appropriate for evenings aboard ship and gentlemen are requested to wear jackets and ties in the dining room and lounges after 6:00pm on most evenings."

The Captain's Gala Cocktail Party is when they wanted guests to make a "grand entrance dressed in your most devastating gown or best dinner jacket."

There was also pirate's night as well as a Madcap Masquerade, where guests could dress up as Groucho Marx or Dolly Parton.

And yes, there was a midnight buffet offered in these days. Cruise ships didn't have nearly as many dining choices as they do today, so one evening of the cruise, there would be "a pageant of delicious dishes."

Royal Caribbean actually offered a viewing before the buffet opened, so passengers could take photos.

If you suddenly had the idea to plan a spring break cruise, it's probably too late by now.

As we're just a few weeks away from the start of Spring Break vacations, many families are gearing up to escape to a warm, sunny cruise in the Caribbean.

While there are still some cabins left on select ships, you're probably in for a rude awakening when you get a quote.

"It's expensive and limited availability," is what Sharla Manglass, a travel advisor with MEI Travel, said about spring break options.

She, and many travel agents, are getting swamped with new requests for a spring break cruise. 

Families that are trying to book a cruise with just weeks left until their sail date are running into the reality of the nature of the cruise industry today.  Cruise vacations are seeing record demand that have resulted in higher prices across the board.  

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty told Wall Street analysts recently, "We're seeing really good demand trends from Europe, as well as obviously the U.S."

While Ms. Manglass is happy to price out what's left, she knows before the quote is generated it's probably not what the client is looking for.

"It's not to say there is nothing available, but picky cruisers might not be happy with what is out there." 

She gave an example of what many families are looking for in their quote, "If you have a family of 4 or 5, a single room isn't likely going to be available, nor will connecting rooms."

Compounding the problem is going to be logistical considerations to get to and from the cruise.

"Another consideration is that flights are going to be expensive this late in the game," Ms. Manglass explained. "The cost of both flights as well as paying for a cruise in full at the same time won't work for most people's budget."

Start planning spring break next year instead

If you're locked out of a spring break cruise this year, now is the perfect time to get avoid this problem next year.

"If someone contacted me asking to book a cruise for this year's Spring Break, I’d offer to look, but it might be better to look for the summer or spring break next year."

The single best strategy for getting on the ship you want at a price you like is to book as early as you can.

The mistake new cruisers make is waiting too long to plan a cruise, and the result are few ships and high prices.

Booking a cruise in 2026 now, means you'll have so many more choices in the ship, stateroom, itinerary, and almost certainly lower prices.

With demand so high for cruises, prices are only going up from here.  Booking now locks in the price and gives you much more time to pay it off before the final payment date.

As an example, a cruise booked for March or April 2025 would require full payment of the cruise immediately because it's past the final payment window of 90 days.  So even if you found a spring break cruise for this year, you'd have to shell out the entire cost up front.

But if you booked a 2026 spring break cruise, you could reserve one with just a deposit. Then you could make payments between now and 90 days prior to the sail date, or pay it all later when you reach the final payment date.

Big savings if you book next year's cruise now

An example of the pricing difference if you book this year or next year can be found in looking at Adventure of the Seas.

Adventure sails from Port Canaveral on March 14 in both 2025 and 2026, offering a 6-night Caribbean cruise in both years.

If you tried to book an inside cabin for 4 people in 2025, there are no inside cabins left that can accommodate that size.

For comparison, two adults in an inside cabin on the March 14, 2025 sailing of Adventure of the Seas starts at $2,135 if you book a guarantee cabin or $2,509 if you choose a specific cabin.

Even if you select your own cabin, there are just five rooms left to book and the price goes up if you don't want a room on deck 2. 

However, if you opt for the same cruise on Adventure of the Seas on March 14, 2026, the options are much better.

There are still inside cabins left for 4 people in a single room, plus many other cabin categories.

For that two adults in an inside cabin idea, the price starts at $1,463 if you let Royal Caribbean pick the room location, or $1,657 if you pick the room location.

That's over 50% less to book a spring break next year compared to this year. With that $852 in savings, you could use it to pay for airfare or a host of other vacation costs.